Abstracts

Rationale: To investigate the trend of viral association in benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG).Methods: All patients hospitalized for CwG were included between November 2012 and October 2014. Medical record was retrospectively reviewed. Stool specimens were tested for the presence of norovirus and astrovirus using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); rotavirus and enteric adenovirus using enzyme immunoassay.Results: Among 47 patients tested, causative diarrheal viruses were detected in 36 (76.6%) of the fecal specimens tested: 26 norovirus (72.0%), 6 rotavirus (12.8%), 3 adenovirus (6.4 %) and 1 astrovirus (2.1%). Laboratory results and seizure variables including number of seizure episodes were not significantly different between viruses. Although not significantly different, more than 5 seizure episodes were observed in 5 of 26 (19.2%) norovirus associated CwGs while in none of rotavirus associated CwG (P=0.56).Conclusions: Norovirus is a major causative viral association of CwG along with rotavirus. Viral identification could help minimizing antiepileptic usage in patients with clustered convulsion following gastroenteritis.