Pediatric status epilepticus – specific features in the context of pre-existing epilepsy and primary detected seizures

Abstract

Background. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical picture and evolution of status epilepticus in children in the context of evaluating the differences between two groups of children: with de novo seizures and those previously diagnosed with epilepsy. Material and methods. This is a retrospective, single-center study. Children with convulsive status epilepticus admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in the Hospital of Mother and Child Health Care were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and seizure-related variables. Results. Among 55 children with status epilepticus, hospitalized during 2019-2023 - 40 (72.3%) had the diagnosis of epilepsy, in 32 of the children (58.1%) were described focal seizures and 8 children needed to be intubat-ed; the mortality rate was 1.8%. Children with detected de novo seizures were younger and underwent electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging examination more often compared to children known to have epilepsy (p<0.05). However, a pathological EEG was recorded more frequently among children known to have epilepsy (p<0.001). Conclusions. Inadequate dosage of antiepileptic drugs was frequently encountered among children known to have epilepsy who presented with status epilepticus. There were no significant differences between the sex ratio, type of seizures, need for intubation, duration of hospitalization and mortality in children in the two groups.