%0 Journal Article %J Eur J Paediatr Neurol %D 2014 %T Long-term follow-up in children with benign convulsions associated with gastroenteritis. %A Verrotti, Alberto %A Moavero, Romina %A Vigevano, Federico %A Cantonetti, Laura %A Guerra, Azzurra %A Spezia, Elisabetta %A Tricarico, Antonella %A Nanni, Giuliana %A Agostinelli, Sergio %A Chiarelli, Francesco %A Parisi, Pasquale %A Capovilla, Giuseppe %A Beccaria, Francesca %A Spalice, Alberto %A Coppola, Giangennaro %A Franzoni, Emilio %A Gentile, Valentina %A Casellato, Susanna %A Veggiotti, Pierangelo %A Malgesini, Sara %A Crichiutti, Giovanni %A Balestri, Paolo %A Grosso, Salvatore %A Zamponi, Nelia %A Incorpora, Gemma %A Savasta, Salvatore %A Costa, Paola %A Pruna, Dario %A Cusmai, Raffaella %K Adolescent %K Anticonvulsants %K Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity %K Child %K Child, Preschool %K Electroencephalography %K Epilepsy %K Female %K Gastroenteritis %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Neurologic Examination %K Retrospective Studies %X

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.

AIM: 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.

%B Eur J Paediatr Neurol %V 18 %P 572-7 %8 2014 Sep %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24780603?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.ejpn.2014.04.006