Recovery of consciousness following epileptic seizures in children

Joanna E Allen ^1*, Colin D Ferrie ², John H Livingston ² and Richard G Feltbower ³

¹ School of Medicine, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
² Leeds General Infirmary, United Kingdom
³ University of Leeds, United Kingdom

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: joannaallen{at}yahoo.co.uk.

Accepted 18 June 2006

Abstract

Objective:To investigate the duration of post- ictal impairment of consciousness and the factors that affect it.

Patients:Ninety children aged 1-16 years (37 male, 53 female, median age 6 years), attending the accident and emergency department, and in-patients of Leeds General Infirmary, who had suffered seizures involving impairment of consciousness.

Interventions:Hourly modified paediatric coma scores were performed, until a coma score of 15 was obtained. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing recovery time.

Results:Forty-nine children were excluded due to incomplete coma-scoring, lost notes and refusal of consent. Median time for full recovery of consciousness was 38 minutes (0.63 hours, range 0.05-17.0 hours). Median recovery time from febrile seizures was 18 minutes (0.3 hours, range 0.05-9.0 hours), which was significantly shorter than seizures of other aetiologies (p<0.05). Median recovery time was 1.35 hours (0.07- 13.13 hours) from idiopathic seizures, 1.25 hours (0.07- 12.10 hours) from remote symptomatic seizures, and 4.57 hours (0.25-17.0 hours) from acute symptomatic seizures. Median recovery time following the use of benzodiazepines was 3.46 hours (range 0.08-14.25 hours), and was significantly longer than for seizures not treated with benzodiazepines (median 0.47 hours, range 0.05-17.00 hours). Age, gender, seizure type and duration did not significantly affect recovery time.

Conclusions:The majority of children suffering from febrile seizures recover within hour. An acute symptomatic aetiology should be considered if recovery takes longer than 1 hour.

Keywords: children, epileptic seizures, febrile seizures, impaired consciousness, postictal

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

A brief digest of the January issue
Arch. Dis. Child. 2007 92: e1. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2007). JournalWatch. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 557-558 [Full Text]  
• Narchi, H., Feltbower, R., Allen, J., Livingstone, J., Ferrie, C. (2007). Concerns with the linear regression model * Authors' response. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 559-559 [Full Text]  
• Millichap, J. G. (2007). Factors Affecting Recovery of Consciousness After Seizures. AAP Grand Rounds 17: 40-40 [Full Text]  
• (2007). Rapid Recovery of Consciousness After Febrile Seizures. JWatch Pediatrics 2007: 2-2 [Full Text]