Prognostic factors for the recurrence of afebrile seizures after benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis.

Abstract

The overall prognosis of benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) is favorable, and the incidence of afebrile seizure recurrence with or without gastroenteritis (ASwGI and ASwoGI, respectively) is low. In this study we investigated the prognostic factors associated with afebrile seizure (AS) relapse after the first CwG episode. A hospital-based cohort with an initial CwG episode from January 2012 to October 2019 was followed for at least 19months. The relapse types were divided into ASwGI and ASwoGI. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent prognostic factors for the recurrence of AS after the initial CwG episode. Furthermore, the clinical characteristics between ASwGI and ASwoGI were compared. Among the 868 patients enrolled, 67 (7.7%) experienced a second AS and 71% (48/67) showed gastroenteritis-associated recurrence. Except for five patients with subsequent epilepsy (0.6%), only eight (0.9%) experienced three seizure episodes. The independent predictive factors for the subsequent recurrence of AS were age less than 18months at onset (odds ratio [OR]: 2.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53-5.63), repeated seizures over 24h (OR: 4.09, 95% CI: 2.19-7.65), and absence of fever (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.26-4.33) during the first CwG episode. The probability of recurrence of AS for those with one, two, and three predictive factors was 3.23%, 13.35%, and 22.85%, respectively. In addition, the age at onset was significantly lower in the ASwoGI group than in the ASwGI group during the first episode (p < .05). The risk of AS relapse after the initial CwG episode is low, and the majority of patients presented with gastroenteritis. The risk can be predicted by age at onset, repeated seizures over 24h, and absence of fever during the first CwG episode.