Epidemiology of status epilepticus among children in Qatar in 2008

الملخص EN

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 dis¬played 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 pat¬tern 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.