Redefining outcome of first seizures by acute illness.

Pediatrics.  2010; 126(6):e1477-84 (ISSN: 1098-4275)

Martin ET; Kerin T; Christakis DA; Blume HK; Gospe SM; Vinje J; Bowen MD; Gentsch J; Zerr DM
Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.

BACKGROUND:
Seizures are common in children, but the causes and recurrence risk for children with a nonfebrile first seizure remain poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE:
In a prospective longitudinal study of children who presented with a first-time seizure, we investigated the viral etiology of associated infectious illnesses and sought to determine the risk of recurrent seizures stratified by fever and type of illness.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Children (aged 6 months to 6 years) were enrolled at the time of evaluation for their first seizure and followed monthly for up to 5 years. Seizure and illness data were collected through parent interviews and medical-record reviews. Stool, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid collected within 48 hours of the first seizure were evaluated for viral gastrointestinal pathogens.
RESULTS:
Of the 117 children enrolled, 78 (67%) had febrile seizures, 34 (29%) had nonfebrile-illness seizures, and 5 (4%) had unprovoked seizures.
Children with nonfebrile-illness seizures were more likely than those with febrile seizures to have acute gastroenteritis (47% and 28%, respectively; P = .05).
No significant differences in seizure recurrence were found between children with or without a fever at first seizure.
Children with acute gastroenteritis at first seizure, regardless of fever, had a lower risk of seizure recurrence compared with children with other acute illnesses (hazard ratio: 0.28; 95% confidence interval: 0.09-0.80).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results confirm the role of gastrointestinal illness as a distinguishing feature in childhood seizures.
Children with this distinct presentation have a low rate of seizure recurrence and few neurologic complications.