Characteristics of Persistent Diarrhea in Iranian Children Admitted to a Pediatric Hospital in Tehran 2006–07

Abstract

Results: Among them, 52 patients (15.5%) with gastroenteritis and convulsion were studied: 54% were male, 46% were female, 42% cases occurred in spring, 29% in autumn, 27% in summer, but in winter this percentage reduced to only 2%. 96% of patients had fever, 94% had watery diarrhea, 6% had dysentery, 35% cases had stool exam with many WBC and RBC and stool culture positive for shigellosis, 75% cases were under 3 years, pattern of seizure was generalized tonic-clonic in 98% patients with gastroenteritis, two or more seizure occurred in 11.5%, 88.5% cases had one episode seizure, 86% had gastroenteritis with seizure before admission, 4% had seizure after admission, 10% had seizure before and after admission, 88.5% had convulsion after gastroenteritis, but 11.5% cases before it.Conclusion: according to this study, type of convulsion in children less than 3 years with gastroenteritis and even shigella -related seizure is one episode of generalized tonicclonic. It usually occurs during first day after beginning gastroenteritis. Similar to the simple febrile seizure, convulsion with gastroenteritis is benign and has an excellent outcome.