title: Risk factors of status epilepticus in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there is abundant literature about the morbidity and mortality rates of status epilepticus (SE), little is known about the risk factors of this medical emergency. The aim of the present study is to assess the risk factors of SE in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed the medical records of 83 patients admitted to the Pediatric Neurology Unit of Trakya University Hospital, Edirne, Turkey from January 1994 to December 2001 with the diagnosis of SE. Eighty-three patients were compared with 166 controls who were admitted to the same unit due to non-status epilepticus (non-SE) seizure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The univariate analysis demonstrated that SE episodes were significantly associated with a history of birth asphyxia, neonatal seizure, discontinuation of antiepileptic medication, epilepsy, partial seizure evolving to secondary generalized seizures, myoclonic seizure, generalized abnormalities in the neurological examination, neuromotor retardation, generalized background abnormalities on electroencephalogram (EEG), generalized abnormalities on neuroimaging and polypharmacy than non-SE episodes. Logistic regression was used to test the independence of these parameters as predictors of SE risk. Four parameters emerged as significant independent predictors of SE in children in multiple logistic regression: polypharmacy (Odds ratio (OR) 5.17, P = 0.0004), discontinuation of antiepileptic medication (OR 4.04, P = 0.0095), neuromotor retardation (OR 4.03, P = 0.0016) and generalized background abnormalities on EEG (OR 2.48, P = 0.0419).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polypharmacy, discontinuation of antiepileptic medication, neuromotor retardation and generalized background abnormalities on EEG are indicators in children of a higher risk of SE.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Trakya, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: KarasalIhoGlu
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: CoSkun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: CeLtik
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Betül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biner
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Utku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*