J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2005 May;13(1):23-30.

Clinical Investigation of Benign Afebrile Seizure with Gastroenteritis

• Lee EH
• Choi DY
• Park HJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to characterize detailed clinical features of benign afebrile seizure with gastroenteritis.
METHODS
We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 52 patients with benign afebrile seizure and gastroenteritis, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics Eulji University Hospital, between February 1996 and January 2005.
RESULTS
There were 52 patients with benign afebrile seizure and gastroenteritis:18 boys and 34 girls. Most of the patients(86.5%) were from 12 to 23 months of age. In the monthly distribution, 71.1% were admitted between November and March. Most of the seizures(98.0%) were generalized and 53.9% of those were generalized tonic and clonic. The durations of the seizures were mostly within 5 minutes. 40 patients(76.9%) had 2 or more seizures. The interval between the onset of gastroenteritis and seizures was mostly from 2 to 4 days. Fifteen out of 32 patients were rotazyme positive. Chi-square test was performed to identify if there was any association between rotavirus and afebrile seizure. Rotavirus gastroenteritis has a stastically significant association with afebrile seizure compared to non-rotavirus gastroenteritis(P<0.01). The relative risk between rotavirus and non-rotavirus gastroenteritis was 3.35. However, there were no significant differences in clinical features between two groups. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal and cell counts, glucose and protein levels in all the patients examined. Either brain CT or MRI was performed in 9 patients and demonstrated no neuroradiological abnormalities. Electroencephalography was performed in 47 patients, of whom 43 patients(92.3%) showed normal electroencephalographic patterns.
CONCLUSION
Benign afebrile seizure is characterized by the onset age between 12 months and 23 months, multiple episodes of seizure, short duration, generalized type, high incidence between November and March, and rotavirus as a major pathogen.

Keyword

Afebrile seizure; Benign convulsion; Gastroenteritis

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Brain
Cell Count
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Electroencephalography
Female
Gastroenteritis*
Glucose
Humans
Incidence
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Records
Pediatrics
Retrospective Studies
Rotavirus
Seizures*
Glucose