Open AccessEpidemiology of Status Epilepticus Among Children in Qatar in 2008
Author(s) -
Rana Al-shami,
Mohamed S. Bessisso,
MF El Said,
Khalid Ansari
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
qatar medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.171
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2227-0426
pISSN - 0253-8253
DOI - 10.5339/qmj.2012.1.7
Subject(s) - status epilepticus , medicine , epidemiology , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , epilepsy , febrile seizure , retrospective cohort study , psychiatry , physics , optics
Background: Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in childhood is a medical emergency and its epidemiology should be studied separately from adult CSE; this study reviewed pediatric cases reported in Qatar in 2008. Methods: A retrospective study for a defined pediatric age group (30 days < age < 15 years) with SE was carried out in Qatar for 12 months and included 25 patients. Results:: Of the patients, 56% male, 44% female, 56% were younger than 2 years, and 52% had febrile status epilepticus, 76.9% of whom were boys. All who displayed prolonged seizure status (more than 45 min) had abnormal EEG and brain CT readings and required a prolonged stay in PICU; 20% had history of status epilepticus before. Conclusions:: The incidence of SE in Qatar is similar to reports around the world, and the age-specific incidence pattern is similar as well. Febrile status epilepticus is the most important cause especially in boys. Symptomatic SE has a significantly longer duration with higher risk for recurrence than idiopathic SE.