December 5, 2017

Study evaluates long-term health impact of convulsive seizures in children

According to a Lancet study, “Long-term prognosis after childhood convulsive status epilepticus: a prospective cohort study” [1]:

Childhood convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is associated with substantial long-term neurological morbidity, but primarily in those who have epilepsy, neurological abnormalities, or both before the episode of convulsive status epilepticus. Survivors without neurological abnormalities before convulsive status epilepticus have favorable outcomes.

[Researchers] collected data from structured clinical neurological assessment, neurocognitive assessment (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), brain MRI, medical records, and structured interviews with participants and their parents to determine neurological outcomes, with adverse outcome defined as presence of one or more of epilepsy (active or in remission), motor disability, intellectual disability, or statement of special educational needs.