Etiologies of convulsive status epilepticus in children

Abstract

Introduction: Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is one of the neurologic emergencies of childhood with varying degrees of impaired consciousness and motor symptoms. The aim of this study was to try to define the etiology of patients with CSE.Materials and Methods: Children aged 1 month to 18 years with CSE were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, seizure type, seizure etiology, epilepsy history, drugs used, and complications were recorded.Results: One hundred forty-five patients who were diagnosed as having were included in the study, 60.7% of whom were male. The seizure type was focal onset in 55.9% of the patients. According to the etiology of CSE, the most common group was found as unknown group (48%), and 72.9% of those had a history of epilepsy. Febrile (17%) and central nervous system infections (8.3%) were found to be the most common in acute etiology, respectively. Pulmonary complications developed most frequently. The mortality rate was 0.7%.Conclusion: The "unknown etiology" is found as the most common etiology of CSE in children. Febrile seizure and central nervous system infections are common in acute etiologies.