Central nervous system infections and status epilepticus association, clinical profile and outcomes in children hospitalized with new-onset acute symptomatic seizures
Cross-sectional study reveals a strong link between CNS infections and status epilepticus in pediatric new-onset seizures, indicating the need for rapid diagnosis.
Key Points
To assess the relationship between convulsive status epilepticus and central nervous system infections and determine risk factors for poor clinical outcomes in children hospitalized with first-onset acute symptomatic seizures.
Conducted a single-center cross-sectional study of 425 pediatric emergency admissions with new-onset seizures in southern Vietnam between June and October 2024.
Used propensity score matching to adjust for baseline imbalances and multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of poor clinical outcomes.
Convulsive status epilepticus was diagnosed in 12.2% (52/425) of patients and was strongly associated with central nervous system infections (adjusted OR 30.9, 95% CI 12.4–77.4; P < .001).
Poor clinical outcomes occurred in 11.8% of hospitalized children, independently predicted by confirmed CNS infection, focal seizure onset, lower Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, and delayed presentation from seizure onset.