The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 3
Convulsion Following Gastroenteritis in Children without Severe Electrolyte Imbalance
1Department of Pediatrics, Tabriz University (Medical Sciences), 2Young Researchers Club and 3Tabriz Islamic Azad
University Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz, Eastern Azerbaijan, Iran
Three to five million children from among one billion with gastroenteritis
die annually worldwide. The etiologic agent in developed countries is viral
in 15-60% of cases, while in developing countries, bacteria and parasites
are frequently reported as the etiologic factors. Neurologic signs including
convulsion are seen in some cases of diarrhea. This study aimed to investigate
the etiology, risk factors and short-term prognosis of gastroenteritis with
convulsion. During a case-control study, 100 patients with gastroenteritis
were enrolled into the case and control groups on the basis of convulsion or
no convulsion development, respectively. This study was conducted in Tabriz
Children’s Hospital from March 2004 to March 2007. The age of patients ranged
from 2 months to 7 years, and the groups were age- and sex-matched. Body
temperature (BT), severity and type of dehydration, stool exam and culture,
past history of convulsion in the patient and first-degree relatives, electrolyte
imbalance, and short-term prognosis were studied and compared. The mean
weight of groups was not different, while the frequency of fever at the time
of admission, past history of febrile convulsion in first-degree relatives and
severity of dehydration were significantly higher in the case group (p<0.001).
The BT of the case group on admission was higher than in the control group
(39.01±0.80 vs. 37.52±0.67oC; p<0.001). Past history of febrile convulsion in
the patient, shigellosis and antibiotic usage were also significantly higher in
the case group (p=0.025, p=0.014 and p=0.001). Convulsion mostly occurred
in mild gastroenteritis accompanied with fever and positive history of febrile
convulsion in first-degree relatives. History of febrile convulsion in the patient
and shigellosis were associated with development of convulsion in patients
with gastroenteritis. No significant electrolyte imbalance was observed in
patients with gastroenteritis experiencing febrile convulsion.
Keywords :
convulsion, gastroenteritis, febrile convulsion, shigella.