Cortical Blindness Following Convulsions and Fever in Nigerian Children

The manuscript describes the occurrence of blindness of cortical origin and other neurologic defects in six children under 6 years of age, following febrile illnesses complicated by seizures. The pathogenesis of cortical blindness in these cases is discussed. Blindness was not detected in the hospital before discharge in nearly all the children, but it was suspected by the children's parents when the children returned home to their normal surroundings. Five of the six children are known to have recovered from the blindness and associated neurologic defects. In this manuscript a plea is made for thorough neurologic, behavioral, and, especially, ophthalmologic examination of children after seizures, particularly when focal neurologic signs persist.