Infantile status epilepticus in Tunisia. Clinical, etiological and prognostic aspects

This retrospective study includes 139 infants (74 girls and 65 boys) treate d for status epilepticus at two University hospitals in Tunisia between 199 0 and 1997. Their mean age was 11 months. The majority of seizures were gen eralized (74%) and lasted between 30 minutes and 1 hour (70%). The cause of status epilepticus was classified as acute symptomatic in 56, febrile in 5 7, remote symptomatic in nine, progressive neurologic in 10 and idiopathic in seven. Overall mortality was 15.8% and neurological sequelae were identi fied in 36% of the cases during the mean follow-up time of 3.5 years. The i ncidence of significant sequelae was a function of aetiology (especially ac ute symptomatic causes) and age (under 1 year of age). We conclude that the most frequent causes of infantile status epilepticus in Tunisia were fever and acute symptomatic causes. Status epilepticus among infants is an impor tant public health problem, with significant associated mortality and morbi dity. Management of status epilepticus can be improved by more rapid access to appropriate medical care. (C) 2001 BEA Trading Ltd.