Acute gastroenteritis-related encephalopathy

Abstract

We studied the incidence of convulsions in 1936 children with acute gastroenteritis. Sixty-eight children had convulsions (3.5%), which were categorized into three groups: (1) bacterial (n = 13; 19%), (2) Rotavirus (n = 30, 44%), and (3) no organism (n = 25; 37%). Only group 2 versus group 3 had a significant association with encephalopathy (P < .002). The relative risk was estimated to determine the risk of encephalopathy: Rotavirus versus no organism isolated (relative risk = 2.308), Rotavirus versus bacterial (relative risk = 1.846), and bacterial versus no organism (relative risk = 1.25). None developed epilepsy. Thus, acute gastroenteritis-related encephalopathy is a benign condition with single or recurrent seizures during an episode of acute gastroenteritis and an excellent prognosis. The underlying mechanism for provoking seizure is unknown. One should be reassured of a good outcome in the majority of children with recurrent episodes of afebrile/febrile seizures during an episode of acute gastroenteritis.