STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN INFANTS AND CHILDRE N - ETIOLOGY, CLINICAL-FEATURES AND PROGNOSIS - A REVIEW OF 103 CASES

A prospective study conducted in three hospitals in Cameroon from Octo ber 1, 1992 through May 31, 1993 identified 103 cases of status epilep ticus in infants and children aged one month to 15 years. The cause wa s identified in 90 % of cases. Cerebral malaria was the most common ca use (31 %), followed by bacterial meningitis (17 %), metabolic disturb ances (17 %), prexisting cerebral lesions (15 %), and respiratory and urinary tract infections (10 %). There was no prior history of seizure s in 68 % of cases. The status epilepticus was generalized in 80 % of cases and focal in 20 %. The death rate was 17 %, 49 % of patients had residual neurological abnormalities, and 34 % achieved a full recover y. There is a need for programs aimed at making primary health care pr oviders aware that status epilepticus can cause death or permanent neu rological loss.