Clinical Study of Benign Convulsion with Acute Gastroenteritis

Cho, Jin Hyung; Joo, Kim Eun; Kim, Sung Koo; Shin, Seon Hee; Lee, Kon Hee; Yoon, Hae Sun

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to characterize clinical features of benign convulsions with acute gastroenteritis(CwG) in infants.
METHODS
We reviewed 83 consecutive seizures in 42 patients with CwG between January 1995 and December 2003. CwG was defined as convulsions having the following two characteristics : (a) seizures accompanied with symptoms of gastroenteritis without clinical signs of dehydration or electrolyte derangement; and (b) the body temperature remained less than 37.5 before and after the seizures. The clinical characteristics were compared between rotavirus positive and negative groups.
RESULTS
Their ages ranged from 6 to 37 months(mean, 18.1 months). The average interval between the onset of astroenteritis and that of seizures was 56.4 hours. The seizure episodes ranged from one to seven times in cluster. Two or more seizures occurred in 23 patients(54.8%) within one episode of gastroenteritis. The seizure types constituted of generalized tonic-clonic(89.2%), generalized tonic(9.6%), or generalized clonic(1.2%). Only four of 42 patients showed abnormal electroencephalogram(EEG) findings, which reverted to normal during the follow-up period. All patients displayed normal psychomotor development without recurrent seizures, except two patients who had febrile seizures and a recurrence of CwG. Comparing the rotavirus positive group with the rotavirus negative group, the rotavirus positive group had more females, older patients and longer durations of seizure, significantly(P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The prognosis of afebrile seizures following acute gastroenteritis was benign.