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Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Martin, ET; Kerin, T; Christakis, DA; Blume, HK; Gospe, SM; Vinje, J; Bowen, MD; Gentsch, J; Zerr, DM
Published in: Pediatrics
December 2010

BACKGROUND: Seizures are common in children, but the causes and recurrence risk for children with a nonfebrile first seizure remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective longitudinal study of children who presented with a first-time seizure, we investigated the viral etiology of associated infectious illnesses and sought to determine the risk of recurrent seizures stratified by fever and type of illness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children (aged 6 months to 6 years) were enrolled at the time of evaluation for their first seizure and followed monthly for up to 5 years. Seizure and illness data were collected through parent interviews and medical-record reviews. Stool, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid collected within 48 hours of the first seizure were evaluated for viral gastrointestinal pathogens. RESULTS: Of the 117 children enrolled, 78 (67%) had febrile seizures, 34 (29%) had nonfebrile-illness seizures, and 5 (4%) had unprovoked seizures. Children with nonfebrile-illness seizures were more likely than those with febrile seizures to have acute gastroenteritis (47% and 28%, respectively; P = .05). No significant differences in seizure recurrence were found between children with or without a fever at first seizure. Children with acute gastroenteritis at first seizure, regardless of fever, had a lower risk of seizure recurrence compared with children with other acute illnesses (hazard ratio: 0.28; 95% confidence interval: 0.09-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the role of gastrointestinal illness as a distinguishing feature in childhood seizures. Children with this distinct presentation have a low rate of seizure recurrence and few neurologic complications.

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Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

126

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e1477 / e1484

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seizures, Febrile
  • Seizures
  • Risk Factors
  • Recurrence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pediatrics
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gastroenteritis
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Martin, E. T., Kerin, T., Christakis, D. A., Blume, H. K., Gospe, S. M., Vinje, J., … Zerr, D. M. (2010). Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness. Pediatrics, 126(6), e1477–e1484. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1138
Martin, Emily T., Tara Kerin, Dimitri A. Christakis, Heidi K. Blume, Sidney M. Gospe, Jan Vinje, Michael D. Bowen, Jon Gentsch, and Danielle M. Zerr. “Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness.Pediatrics 126, no. 6 (December 2010): e1477–84. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1138.
Martin ET, Kerin T, Christakis DA, Blume HK, Gospe SM, Vinje J, et al. Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness. Pediatrics. 2010 Dec;126(6):e1477–84.
Martin, Emily T., et al. “Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness.Pediatrics, vol. 126, no. 6, Dec. 2010, pp. e1477–84. Pubmed, doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1138.
Martin ET, Kerin T, Christakis DA, Blume HK, Gospe SM, Vinje J, Bowen MD, Gentsch J, Zerr DM. Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness. Pediatrics. 2010 Dec;126(6):e1477–e1484.

Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

126

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e1477 / e1484

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seizures, Febrile
  • Seizures
  • Risk Factors
  • Recurrence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pediatrics
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gastroenteritis