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Status epilepticus in childhood
Author(s) -
Ng YuTze,
Maganti Rama
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02559.x
Subject(s) - medicine , status epilepticus , coma (optics) , refractory (planetary science) , etiology , pediatrics , electroencephalography , epilepsy , neurosurgery , neuroimaging , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , physics , astrobiology , optics
Status epilepticus (SE) remains a life‐threatening condition that afflicts both adults and children, and may occur at onset of epilepsy, especially in children. Febrile SE is the most common cause in children, while other symptomatic causes are less frequent compared to adults. The aetiological workup that must be undertaken in all cases includes neuroimaging and electroencephalography. The various electroencephalographic patterns seen in patients with SE along with the out‐of‐hospital treatment for SE in children and treatment strategies in cases that are refractory to first‐line medical treatments are discussed. Medically induced coma may be necessary in refractory cases, although the optimal agents to use and degree of electroencephalographic suppression in children remain unclear. Neurosurgery is not a well‐known treatment option that could be considered for refractory cases. Although the prognosis has probably improved over the years, it remains a potential life‐threatening emergency.