Benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis: a multicenter clinical study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the clinical characteristics and the outcome of benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) in Italian children.

Methods: We studied clinical and EEG features of 128 children with CwG who were hospitalized between January 2004 and February 2008 and then followed for at least 12 months in 14 Italian centers.

Results: Age at onset ranged from 6 to 60 months. The seizures were generalized in 73 cases (57%), only focal in 16 (12.5%), and secondarily generalized in 39 (30.5%). The duration of the seizures was under 5 min in 97 patients (75.8%), between 5 and 30 min in 26 (20.3%), and longer than 30 min in 5 (3.9%). Seventy-three participants (57%) had 2 or more seizures, which recurred within 24-48 h. In the acute phase, antiepileptic drugs were used in 72 patients (56.3%). Although interictal abnormalities were present in EEG of 28 children (21.9%), these reverted to normal. During the follow up period, only 6 patients (4.7%) suffered from recurrence of CwG, 7 (5.5%) suffered from simple febrile seizures, and 3 (2.3%) developed epilepsy.

Conclusions: Recognition of CwG in children allows pediatricians to avoid extensive evaluations and continuous antiepileptic therapy and to reassure parents regarding the lack of long-term complications.