[Rotavirus and seizures. A well-defined uncommon association].

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus infection, besides gastrointestinal symptoms, may cause several neurological complications. Among these, are benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG). Despite having well defined clinical features, its incidence is not well known.

METHODS

We selected discharge diagnoses of acute diarrhea in children aged 1 month to 5 years who were admitted to Donostia Hospital between July 1996 and June 2008. Among them, we selected those cases with concomitant diagnosis of seizure.

RESULTS

Rotavirus was detected in 419 of 1114 children hospitalized for gastroenteritis. (39.2%), Five (1.2%) had symptoms compatible with CwG. The episodes occurred between December and January in all cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 19.6 months. The number of seizures per patient was 2.6 (range 1-4). All the crises were short, the longest being 15min. The total duration of the episode was 1.6 days on average, with up to 3 days. Additional tests performed in all cases, were normal. In subsequent follow-up, one child at 26 months had another episode compatible with this entity at 26 months. During the follow-up period, all patients displayed normal psychomotor development with noe recurrence of seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

CwG is a rare entity within all acute gastroenteritis associated with rotavirus, but has very specific clinical features that enable it to be identified which could avoid excessive medical tests, and aggressive treatment.