CLINICAL STUDY ON BENIGN INFANTILE CONVULSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MILD GASTROENTERITIS

Objectives: To study the clinical features of benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE) in order to diagnosis early and treatment reasonable.

Methods: Patients aged 3–36 months with gastroenteritis accompanied with febrile convulsions were observed and followed up.

Results: Among 74 patients with gastroenteritis, 8 cases (boys 4, girls 4) diagnosed as BICE. The mean age of onset was 16±5.9 month, five cases aged 13–24 months accounted for 63%. 4 cases (50%) occurred in winter. 6 cases presented with seizure in the first 3 days (75%). The pattern of seizures was generalized tonic-clonic (GTCs) in 88%. The average number of seizures during an episode was 2.4 (range from 1 to 8), two or more seizures occurred in 5 patients (63%). No significant change was found in serum biochemisty and neuroradiology examinations and tests of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CT scant. All displayed normal EEG background in interictal. No antiepileptic treatment was given to all as the seizures stopped. During the follow-up, 3 cases relapsed in 38?, average course was 5 months. All patients are normal psychomotor development before and after onset.

Conclusion: BICE has following characteristics: the prevailing age of onset ranged from 1 to 3 years; often occurring in winter; mild gastroenteritis accompanied with afebrile or febrile convulsions occurred in the first 5 days. The pattern of the seizures is often generalized tonic-clonic singly or multiply; tests of serum biochemisty and cerebrospinal fluid were normal without obvious dehydration and acidosis. Rotavirus antigen in stool is often positive; normal background in interictal EEG, ictal EEG records showed atypical epileptic discharges arose from focal and spread in some patients' normal brain neuroradiology examinations, few patients may relapse, the course is less than 12 months. Good prognosis, normal psychomotor development before and after convulsion occurs. We considered they might give anti-epileptic treatment in short time at the beginning of the onset.