Status epilepticus in children.

We have prospectively reviewed the data on 52 children who presented with status epilepticus. Thirty-four (65%) of the 52 had not had seizures before. Children who were previously abnormal were more likely to present with partial status epilepticus or to have seizures greater than 60 minutes than those who were previously normal. The median age (24 months) of those who presented with status epilepticus was the same as that of children with seizures of shorter duration. The causes were equally distributed among the idiopathic, acute encephalopathic and chronic encephalopathic groups. Three children died and 13 (28%) were left with neurological sequelae. The outcome was favorable for those in the idiopathic category.