Febrile Seizures and Benign Convulsion with Mild Gastroenteritis in Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Febrile Seizures and Benign convulsion with mild gastroenteritis(BCwMG) are common neurological disorders in children. We would like to know the clinical characteristics and prognosis of febrile seizure associated with acute gastroenteritis(A), BCwMG(B) and febrile seizure associated with a febrile illness not caused by acute gastroenteritis(C) in children. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 569 pediatric patients aged from 3 months to 5 years that admitted to the Wonju Christian Hospital from 2004 to 2007 for febrile seizures or BCwMG. RESULTS: The mean ages were A; 1.51+/-1.10 years, B; 1.14+/-0.44 years, C; 1.84+/-1.33 years. The most common seizure type was generalized seizure(95.4%). The average frequency of seizure was higher in B than A and C(A; 1.53+/-0.88, B; 2.12+/-1.35, C; 1.23+/-1.11 times/day, P<0.001). The incidence of positive parents history for febrile seizures was higher in A and C compared to B(A; 14.5%, B; 4.3%, C; 17.8%, P<0.05). The mean WBC count in peripheral blood was higher in C than A and B(A; 10,532+/-5,151, B; 8,686+/-3,053, C; 12,932+/-5,866 mmol/L, P<0.001). The positive rate of stool rotavirus antigen test was higher in A and B compared to C(A 45.7%, B 42.6%, C 14.5%, P<0.05). But there were no statistically significant differences of sex ratio, duration of seizures, serum sodium level, abnormal neurodevelopmental status, rate of EEG and neuroimaging abnormalities among three groups. The recurrence rate of febrile seizure after the 1st seizure was A; 9.1%, B; 5.8%, C; 11.9% and unprovoked seizure was A; 5.4%, B; 1.4%, C; 1.6%. CONCLUSION: We consider prophylactic short term management of recurrent episodes of seizures within 24 hours, especially in febrile seizure associated with acute gastroenteritis and BCwMG. Also, It will be necessary to educate parents about the possibility of recurrence of febrile seizures or unprovoked seizures, although the risk is low.