Comparison of clinical characteristics between cluster and isolated seizures associated with benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cluster seizures have not been specifically reported in benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CWG), which are usually considered to have serious outcomes. We aimed to identify the differences between cluster and isolated seizures associated with CWG.

METHOD

We retrospectively analyzed the medical data of children hospitalized and diagnosed with CWG from May 2018 to December 2020. A case-control study approach was adopted and patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into a cluster seizures group and an isolated seizures group. Then, the clinical characteristics of the patients in the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

30 patients（36.6%） were in the cluster seizures group while 52 patients (63.4%) were in the isolated seizures group. The highest incidence of CWG occurs between 12 and 24 months of age. While serum sodium and calcium were within the normal range for both groups, they were lower in the cluster seizures group compared to the isolated seizures group (136.74 ± 2.78 vs 134.65 ± 2.85, P = 0.002; 2.43 ± 0.13 vs 2.37 ± 0.14, P = 0.04). A total of 123 seizures was recorded during the research period and 25 were treated with anticonvulsant drugs. The outcome of anticonvulsant therapy and the prognosis showed no differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians need to be highly alert to the possibility of cluster seizures in CWG patients who have reduced sodium and calcium. Besides, CWG patients with cluster seizures do not require excessive investigations, overuse of anticonvulsant therapy compared to those with isolated seizures.