Long-term follow-up in children with benign convulsions associated with gastroenteritis.
BACKGROUND
The outcome of benign convulsions associated with gastroenteritis (CwG) has generally been reported as being excellent. However, these data need to be confirmed in studies with longer follow-up evaluations.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term neurological outcome of a large sample of children presenting with CwG.


METHODS
We reviewed clinical features of 81 subjects presenting with CwG (1994-2010) from three different Italian centers with a follow-up period of at least 3 years.


RESULTS
Follow-up period ranged from 39 months to 15 years (mean 9.8 years). Neurological examination and cognitive level at the last evaluation were normal in all the patients. A mild attention deficit was detected in three cases (3.7%). Fourteen children (17.3%) received chronic anti-epileptic therapy. Interictal EEG abnormalities detected at onset in 20 patients (24.7%) reverted to normal. Transient EEG epileptiform abnormalities were detected in other three cases (3.7%), and a transient photosensitivity in one (1.2%). No recurrence of CwG was observed. Three patients (3.7%) presented with a febrile seizure and two (2.5%) with an unprovoked seizure, but none developed epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term evaluation of children with CwG confirms the excellent prognosis of this condition, with normal psychomotor development and low risk of relapse and of subsequent epilepsy.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.verrottidipianella@unipg.it.
Alberto
A
Verrotti
Systems Medicine Department, Child Neurology Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Italy.
Romina
R
Moavero
Neuroscience Department, Pediatric Neurology Unit, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Federico
F
Vigevano
Neuroscience Department, Pediatric Neurology Unit, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Laura
L
Cantonetti
Pediatric Neurology, Azienda Policlinico Modena, Modena, Italy.
Azzurra
A
Guerra
Pediatric Neurology, Azienda Policlinico Modena, Modena, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Spezia
Pediatric Neurology, Azienda Policlinico Modena, Modena, Italy.
Antonella
A
Tricarico
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Giuliana
G
Nanni
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Sergio
S
Agostinelli
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Francesco
F
Chiarelli
Chair of Pediatrics, II Faculty of Medicine, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Pasquale
P
Parisi
Epilepsy Center, Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Capovilla
Epilepsy Center, Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy.
Francesca
F
Beccaria
Department of Pediatrics, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
Alberto
A
Spalice
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
Giangennaro
G
Coppola
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Emilio
E
Franzoni
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Valentina
V
Gentile
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Sassari, Italy.
Susanna
S
Casellato
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Child EEG Unit, Foundation C. Mondino Institute of Neurology, Pavia, Italy.
Pierangelo
P
Veggiotti
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Child EEG Unit, Foundation C. Mondino Institute of Neurology, Pavia, Italy.
Sara
S
Malgesini
Department of Pediatrics, DPMSC, University of Udine, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Crichiutti
Department of Pediatrics, University of Siena, Italy.
Paolo
P
Balestri
Department of Pediatrics, University of Siena, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Grosso
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Ancona, Italy.
Nelia
N
Zamponi
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital of Ragusa, Italy.
Gemma
G
Incorpora
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Savasta
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS Burlo Garofalo, Trieste, Italy.
Paola
P
Costa
Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Cagliari, Italy.
Dario
D
Pruna
Neuroscience Department, Pediatric Neurology Unit, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Cusmai
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000927:Anticonvulsants
Anti-epileptic drugs; Gastroenteritis; Long-term follow-up; Seizure relapse; Seizures