title: [The significance of convulsion-like signs in the first 2 years of life].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the prevalence of convulsion-like symptoms in 1854 children of Dutch-speaking mothers of a population-based birth cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  At each child health clinic (CHC) visit mothers were asked whether they had noted any of the following signs: loss of consciousness, involuntary movements, eye rotation movements and apnoea, and if so, whether these appeared to be related to feeding. Registration was done by the CHC physician during eight consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Convulsion-like symptoms occurred in a quarter of the children: in 8% exclusively in relation to feeding, almost without exception in the first three months of life, in 19% also without relation to feeding, continuing until the second birthday. The latter children were more frequently admitted into hospital, even for non-neurological problems, than the former or than children without any such signs. They also have more disabilities at the age of two years. No connection with epilepsy in the family or with congenital anomalies could be demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Convulsion-like symptoms were observed in a quarter of children up to the age of two years. Special attention should be paid by the CHC team to children with signs not connected with feeding.
authors.affiliation: Nederlands Instituut voor Praeventieve Gezondheidszorg TNO, afd. Jeugd en Gezondheid, Leiden.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reerink
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Herngreen
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: den Ouden
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Verloove-Vanhorick
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ruys
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009426:Netherlands; D015995:Prevalence; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
vernacular_title: De betekenis van convulsieachtige verschijnselen in de eerste twee levensjaren.