Benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis: an electroclinical study of 34 patients.

PURPOSE: To analyze the electroclinical features and evolution of patients diagnosed with convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) from southwest China.

METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 34 patients (13 males) diagnosed with CwG and followed-up for at least 12 months.

RESULTS: The age of onset was 6-29 months and the female/male ratio 1.62. Seizures were generalized in 32 cases. Single seizures in 15 cases were <5 min and multiple seizures 24-48 h after seizure onset were seen in 18 cases. Seizure duration was <1 min in 32.35%, between 1 and 5 min in 55.88%, and between 5 and 10 min in 8.82% of seizures. The average interval between the onset of gastroenteritis and seizures was 2.47 days. Rotavirus antigen was positive in stools in 26.47% of cases. During the acute phase, diazepam and phenobarbital as first-line treatment were effective in 25% and 83.33% of cases, respectively. Fourteen patients showed non-specific anomalies in the interictal electroencephalography. During 12-36 months follow-up, 33 cases showed normal psychomotor development and no seizures.

CONCLUSIONS: CwG occurred mostly in toddlers. During the acute phase, phenobarbital is more effective in controlling seizures. For a good prognosis, it is unnecessary to administrate long-term anticonvulsants.