Etiology and Outcome of Convulsive Status Epileptics in Children

Abstract

Objective of study: To review the etiology, clinical profile, and outcome of status epileptics (SE) in pediatric age group. Methods: Data from 50 cases was obtained prospectively which admitted to intensive care unit Benghazi children hospital from between May, 2019 and May, 2020 Patients aged between 30 days and 15 years with the symptoms of SE were selected for this study exclusion criteria convulsion at neonatal age and patient with non-convulsive status epileptics. Results: The data show that Male sex of the cases was predominant as they represented 58% complemented by 42% females: Although male gender was greater than female among the cases, the deaths were 50% male and 50% female, so mortality was equal etiology of the status epileptics it was observed that, in 62% of the sample due to acute symptomatic condition, in 26% due to remote symptomatic illness, unclassified reason was reported in 6%, complex febrile convulsion in 4% and epilepsy related in 2%. Type of seizure was generalized tonic-clonic convulsion in 94% and focal in 6%. Of cases Number of drug used for the cases was one drug in 2%, two drugs in 20%, three drugs in 60% and four drugs in 18%. More than have of the cases (52%) were classified as refractory to anticonvulsant therapy, 8% were super-refractory. 40% of the sample responded to two anticonvulsant medications Outcome of death happened in 20% of the cases (10 cases) and transfer to the ward was done for 80%. Conclusion: Patients with younger age and male sex are slightly more vulnerable to develop SE. Longer duration of SE and acute symptomatic an etiology are independent predictors for poor outcome status epileptics.