Convulsions with Noroviral Gastroenteritis in Children at a Single Center in Korea

Kang, SooYeon; Lee, Hyun Ju; Kim, Shin Hye

Abstract

PURPOSE
Viral gastroenteritis is a common disease in infants and children. Seizures can be associated with viral gastroenteritis as benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG). After the development of the rotavirus vaccination, norovirus has become inreasingly significant in children. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features in a pediatric population presenting with seizures and confirmed enteral viral infections, especially norovirus infections.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients aged < 15 years admitted due to convulsions and gastroenteritis to the Department of Pediatrics of Myongji Hospital between July 2014 and June 2016.
RESULTS
A total of 46 patients (24 male and 22 female) were included. Norovirus was detected in 21 (45.7%) patients, adenovirus in three (6.5%), rotavirus in two (4.3%), astrovirus in one (2.2%), and none of agents were detected in 19 (41.3%) patients. Patients in the norovirus gastroenteritis (NGE) group had a higher incidence of diarrhea than that among in the non-norovirus gastroenteritis (NNGE) group (61.9% vs 28.0%; P < 0.05). Twelve patients experienced status epilepticus, including five (23.8%) in the NGE group and seven (33.0%) in the NNGE group (P=0.837). Seizures were effectively terminated by intravenous benzodiazepines in 8 (66.7%) of 12 patients. Additional long-acting antiepileptic drugs such as fosphenytoin or levetiracetam were required in three (25%) of 12 patients.
CONCLUSION
Patients with CwG with and without noroviurs infection did not differ in terms of clinical features. However, status epilepticus was not uncommon among patients with CwG by definition.