Sixty-eight children 2 months to 14 years of age were admitted with status epilepticus to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital from November 1993 to December 2001. Thirty-eight children (55.9%) had refractory status epilepticus and 30 (44.1%) had established status epilepticus. The children with refractory status epilepticus had received intravenous or per rectal diazepam and intravenous phenytoin/phenobarbital (either or both) before continuous infusion of midazolam was given. Fifty-one children received continuous midazolam infusion. In 38 children with refractory status epilepticus, the midazolam infusion was given in addition to the long-acting antiepilepsy drug, whereas 13 (18.8%) children needed only midazolam to control the established status epilepticus. Seventeen (25%) children were controlled with phenytoin sodium alone. Midazolam was given 0.15 mg/kg/minute initially as bolus in 1 minute, followed by 1 to 7 μgram/kg/minute as continuous infusion. The status could not be controlled in one child (1.5%) suffering from neurodegenerative disease. Two children needed mechanical ventilation following prolonged apnea after diazepam administration in one and diazepam plus phenobarbital in the other. No metabolic derangements or compromise of vital functions was noted on midazolam infusion. All children made a complete recovery. There was one death related to meningoencephalitis. ( J Child Neurol 2002;17:907—909).

A prospective study of Guillain-Barré syndrome from January 1992 to December 2001 was undertaken. Intravenous immunoglobulins were used in all patients. All patients were followed up until complete recovery. Various parameters, such as onset of weakness, duration of hospital stay, ventilation requirement, residual deficit, and mortality, were recorded. Acute relapses and fluctuations were also noted. The pattern of this group was compared with patients before 1992, who were not given intravenous immunoglobulins in the Sultanate of Oman. Our data were compared with a few studies prior to 1992 from the medical literature. Our study revealed a definite benefit with intravenous immunoglobulins. The disease course and hospital stay were shortened. Fewer patients needed ventilation. There was no mortality, and the residual deficit was less than 5%. Occasional relapses at a later stage in the course of illness have been noted in acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, acute relapse, a new phenomenon that was not seen in the pre-intravenous immunoglobulin era, stood at 11.9%. Intravenous immunoglobulins have made a significant difference in the outcome of Guillain-Barré syndrome, but one has to be aware of acute relapses, which usually occur in the first 2 to 3 weeks after administration.

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