• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.1007-1011
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• 2008

Purpose : Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure. The role of genetic factors in FSs has long been recognized. A positive family history can be elicited in 25-40% of patients with FSs; nonetheless, the genes responsible for FSs in the majority of the population remain unknown. Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that acts as an endogenous pyrogen. Thus, $IL-1{\beta}$ could be involved in the pathophysiology of FSs. Methods : To determine whether or not single nucleotide polymorphisms of the $IL-1{\beta}$ gene are associated with susceptibility to simple FSs, $IL-1{\beta}$ promoter -31 and -511 genotyping was performed by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment (PCR-RF) length polymorphism in 40 FS patients (20 sporadic and 20 familial FS patients) and 33 controls. Results : There were no significant differences in the frequencies of -31 C/T and -511 C/T in the $IL-1{\beta}$ promoter gene, between simple FS patients and controls. Conclusion : The frequency of CT/CT increased relatively in familial FS patients. A study examining a larger number of FS patients is needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.144-148
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• 2021

Purpose: Nonpharmaceutical measures, such as social distancing, have resulted in unintended consequences, including a decrease in the incidence of childhood diseases. This study aimed to estimate the impact of social distancing on the incidence of febrile seizure (FS) in Korea using nationally representative data. Methods: We used claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, a single-payer database capturing >95% of the Korean population. The database included any inpatient encounter with a FS diagnosis from January 2010 to September 2020 for those aged 0-5 years old. We aggregated the monthly number of cases to estimate the incidence per 100,000 patient-years in 2020 (January 1 to September 30) for the same periods in 2010-2019. Results: The incidence of FS in 2020 ranged from 113 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 108-118 per 100,000) in January to 27 per 100,000 (95% CI, 25-30 per 100,000) in September, whereas the average FS incidence in 2010-2019 ranged from 116 per 100,000 (95% CI, 112-121 per 100,000) in January to 101 per 100,000 (95% CI, 97-106 per 100,000) in September. Conclusions: The incidence of FS decreased by -38% in 2020, suggesting that social distancing contributed towards decreasing the incidence of FS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.392-396
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• 2010

Purpose : The association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsion in infants has been examined in several studies with conflicting results. Therefore, the authors aimed to evaluate the precise relationship involved. Methods : In this case-control study, the authors assessed 100 children with a diagnosis of febrile convulsion, aged between 9 months and 2 years, during January 2007 to July 2009. The control group consisted of 100 febrile children without convulsion; controls were closely matched to the cases by age, gender, and underlying disease. Results : The mean ages of the febrile convulsion and control group were $16.3{\pm}7.4$ and $15.8{\pm}6.1$ months, respectively, and the two groups had no differences in clinical features. Iron deficiency anemia (Hb <10.5 gm/dL) was more frequent in the febrile convulsion group than in the control group, although there was no statistical significance. Unexpectably, the RDW (red blood cell distribution width) was significantly lower and the MCNC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) was significantly higher among seizure cases than among the controls (P <0.05). There is no statistical difference between simple and complex febrile groups in the clinical and laboratory profiles. On multiple logistic regression analysis, iron deficiency anemia was more frequent, but the RDW was lower, among the cases with febrile convulsion, compared with the controls. Conclusions : Our study suggests that the iron deficiency anemia is associated with febrile convulsion, and screening for iron deficiency anemia should be considered in children with febrile convulsions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2016

Pediatric epilepsy can be caused by various conditions, including specific syndromes. 1p36 deletion syndrome is reported in 1 in 5,000-10,000 newborns, and its characteristic clinical features include developmental delay, mental retardation, hypotonia, congenital heart defects, seizure, and facial dysmorphism. However, detection of the terminal deletion in chromosome 1p by conventional G-banded karyotyping is difficult. Here we present a case of epilepsy with profound developmental delay and characteristic phenotypes. A 7-year-and 6-month-old boy experienced afebrile generalized seizure at the age of 5 years and 3 months. He had recurrent febrile seizures since 12 months of age and showed severe global developmental delay, remarkable hypotonia, short stature, and dysmorphic features such as microcephaly; small, low-set ears; dark, straight eyebrows; deep-set eyes; flat nasal bridge; midface hypoplasia; and a small, pointed chin. Previous diagnostic work-up, including conventional chromosomal analysis, revealed no definite causes. However, array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis revealed 1p36 deletion syndrome with a 9.15-Mb copy loss of the 1p36.33-1p36.22 region, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) confirmed this diagnosis. This case highlights the need to consider detailed chromosomal study for patients with delayed development and epilepsy. Furthermore, 1p36 deletion syndrome should be considered for patients presenting seizure and moderate-to-severe developmental delay, particularly if the patient exhibits dysmorphic features, short stature, and hypotonia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-27
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• 1999

For experimental studies on the anticonvulsion effect and it was measured in mice that toxigenic effect, influence on the central nervous system, anticonvulsion effect, mechanism of anticonvulsion effect by change of GABA level and glutamic acid in brain, effect of the creation and degradation system of brain oxygen free radicals in convulsion. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Samulanshintang was perfect medicine without toxigenic effect. 2. Pretreatment of Samulanshintang did not influence on the central nervous system. 3. Pretreatment of Samulanshintang did not influence on maximal electric seizure(MES), strychnine, bicuculine and picrotoxin, but pentylenetrazol(PTZ)-induced convulsion significantly decreased. 4. Effect of Samulanshintang except for Jinsa on the PTZ-Induced convulsion decreased. 5. Effect of Samulanshintang fragrance(SMATF) and Samulanshintang distiled water(SMATW) on the PTZ-induced convulsion did not influence. 6. Decrease of brain GABA level in PTZ-induced convulsion was increased by pretreatment of Samulanshintang. 7. Decrease of brain glutathione content in PTZ-induced convulsion was increased by pretreatment of Samu- lanshintang. 8. GABA-T activity increased by PTZ-induced was controlled by the pretreatment of Samulanshintang. 9. Increase of brain lipid peroxide content in PTZ-induced convulsion was decreased by pretreatment of Samulanshintang. 10. Significant increase of brain xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase activities in PTZ-induced was controlled by pretreatment of Samulanshintang. 11. Decrease of brain superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in PTZ-induced was decreased by pretreatment of Samulanshintang. From the above results, Samulanshintang was perfect medicine without toxigenic effect and was recognized anticonvulsion effect by decreasing brain glutamic acid level and increasing brain GABA level. Samulanshintang have an effect on creation and degradation system of brain oxygen free radicals in convulsion, thus it was considered that Samulanshintang could be applied in convulsive disorder as epilepsy, febrile seizure and spasm etc.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.294-299
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to detect the status of epilepticus and seizure based on the initial patterns observed in the first 30 minutes of continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring. An cEEG was recorded digitally using electrodes applied according to the International 10~20 System. The EEG data were reviewed from January 2014 to December 2015. The baselines of the EEG patterns were characterized by lateralized periodic discharges, generalized periodic discharges, burst suppression, focal epileptiform, asymmetric background, generalized slowing, and generalized periodic discharges with a triphagic wave. The etiology was classified into five categories. The subjects of this study were 128 patients (age: $56.9{\pm}17.5years$, male:female, 74:54). The mean cEEG monitoring duration was $5.5{\pm}5.1$ (min:max, 1:33) days. The EEG pattern categories included lateralized periodic discharges (N=7), generalized periodic discharges (N=10), burst suppression (N=6), focal epileptiform (N=19), asymmetric background (N=24), generalized slowing (N=51), and generalized periodic discharges with a triphagic wave (N=11). The etiological classifications of the patients with status epilepticus were remote symptomatic (N=4), remote symptomatic with acute precipitant (N=9), acute symptomatic (N=6), progressive encephalopathy (N=2), and febrile seizure (N=1). cEEG monitoring was found to be useful for the diagnosis of non-convulsive epileptic seizures or status epilepticus. The seizure was confirmed by the EEG pattern.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.227-232
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• 2018

Purpose: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure in children between 6 months to 5 years of age. A family history of febrile seizures can increase the risk a child will have a FS. Yet, prevalence of FS regarding external environment has not been clearly proved. This study attempts to determine the association between prevalence of FS and weather. Methods: This study included medical records from the Korea National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Data were collected from 29,240 children, born after 2004, diagnosed with FS who were admitted to one of the hospitals in Seoul, Korea, between January 2009 and December 2013. During the corresponding time period, data from the Korea Meteorological Administration on daily monitoring of four meteorological factors (sea-level pressure, amount of precipitation, humidity and temperature) were collected. The relationships of FS prevalence and each meteorological factor will be designed using Poisson generalized additive model (GAM). Also, the contributory effect of viral infections on FS prevalence and weather will be discussed. Results: The amount of precipitation was divided into two groups for comparison: one with less than 5 mm and the other with equal to or more than 5 mm. As a result of Poisson GAM, higher prevalence of FS showed a correlation with smaller amount of precipitation. Smoothing function was used to classify the relationships between three variables (sea-level pressure, humidity, and temperature) and prevalence of FS. FS prevalence was correlated with lower sea-level pressure and lower humidity. FS prevalence was high in two temperature ranges (-7 to $-1^{\circ}C$ and $18-21^{\circ}C$). Conclusion: Low sea-level pressure, small amount of precipitation, and low relative air humidity may increase FS prevalence risk.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1008-1012
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• 2003

Purpose : We aimed to ascertain whether lumbar punctures should be done to prove febrile seizure, and to study what conditions can delay or abolish lumbar puncture. Methods : This retrospective study was done for four years, from January, 1996 to December, 1999. The subjects were the patients who visited Masan Samsung Hospital for the first convulsion with fever, and whose age ranged from 1-month to 5-years old. The total number of patients was 197. We investigated the rate of meningitis, which was classified by age, season, convulsion type, associated symptoms, and results of blood test. All data were tested chi-square. Results : The diagnosis rate of meningitis among all 197 patients was 7.6%, and of these only one patient was proved to have bacterial meningitis. The rate was high in the young(below 6 month), in males and in summer and autumn. Although the general appearance was good after resolution of the fever, the rate of meningitis was 6.5%. Patients with nausea and vomiting totalled 11%; 9.1% of them were diagnosed with meningitis. The diagnosis rate of meningitis in cases in which additional seizures took place were 33.3%. Conclusion : The ultimate goal of lumbar punctures in seizure patients with accompanying fever is to rule out bacterial meningitis, which, has been demonstrated to be rare. So we think that lumbar puncture can be postponed by close observation of pediatrics specialists and skilled nurses.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.622-628
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• 2007

Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of children with status epilepticus(SE) as an initial seizure and to compare these according to age groups. Methods : The 78 cases(38 cases <2 years and 38 cases ${\geq}2$ years) with SE as an initial seizure admitted to the Chonnam national university hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2004 were reviewed. Developmental profiles, laboratory findings, etiologies and seizure types of SE and outcomes were compared in between two age groups, under and over 2 years. Results : SE occurred predominantly in less than 5 years old. Febrile causes were the most common, which is significantly more in those under 2 years than over 2 years(P<0.05). whereas idiopathic and acute symptomatic causes were more common in those over 2 years(P<0.05). Generalized tonic-clonic seizures was the most common type. The mortality rate was 6.4 percent(5 cases : 1 case <2 years and 4 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The estimated occurrence of epilepsy after SE was 24.4 percent(19 cases : 8 cases <2 years and 11 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The neurologic sequelae after SE in cases that had developed normally before SE(62 cases : 32 cases <2 years and 30 cases ${\geq}2$ years) were observed in 20 cases(32.3 percent), and were more frequent over 2 years(21.9 percent vs. 43.3 percent, P<0.05). Conclusion : In this study death was less common and the neurologic sequelaes of SE as an initial seizure were less severe in children under 2 years of age. The reason seemed to be the difference in the etiology of SE with age.