[Low-dose therapy with carbamazepine for convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis].
We investigated the effect of carbamazepine on convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis. Sixteen infants and young children (aged 9 months to 3 years) who experienced repetitive convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis were admitted to our hospital. We treated the sixteen affected patients with 5 mg/kg of carbamazepine once per day until the diarrhea had stopped. Thirteen of the sixteen patients were subjected to intravenous and/or suppository administration of diazepam (0.3-0.5 mg/kg/time), and one patient suppository administration of 0.5 mg/kg diazepam and 5.7 mg/kg phenobarbital before the administration of carbamazepine. In all patients who were given diazepam and/or phenobarbital, the convulsions recurred after the administration of these medicines. The convulsions occurred 2 to 8 times (mean, 4.1 times) before the administration of carbamazepine. Fifteen of the sixteen patients had no seizures after the administration of carbamazepine. One patient had one convulsion 15 min after the administration of carbamazepine. All patients were treated with 5 mg/kg of carbamazepine once per day until the diarrhea had stopped, i.e. for 2 to 9 days (mean, 6.4 days). Low dose therapy with carbamazepine once per day is thus effective for convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis.
Ichiyama
Takashi
T
Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi. ichiyama@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Matsufuji
Hironori
H
Suenaga
Naoko
N
Nishikawa
Miki
M
Hayashi
Takashi
T
Furukawa
Susumu
S
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine