All issues > Volume 47(8); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(8):855-860. Published online August 15, 2004.

Clinical Study of Benign Convulsion with Acute Gastroenteritis

Jin Hyung JH Cho¹, Kim Eun KE Joo¹, Sung Koo SK Kim¹, Seon Hee SH Shin¹, Kon Hee KH Lee¹, Hae Sun HS Yoon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Sung Koo SK Kim ,Email: NUNONI@hitel.net

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 gastroenteritis 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.

Keywords :Convulsions, Gastroenteritis, Rotavirus, Infant