Pediatric neurology
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Pediatric neurology · Mar 1989
Results of computed tomography in "neurologically normal" children after initial onset of seizures.
A combined retrospective and prospective study assessed the results of computed tomographic (CT) scans in infants and children without neurologic deficit who presented with initial onset of seizures. Of 101 pediatric patients, 81 had afebrile seizures and 20 had complicated febrile seizures (i.e., focal, multiple, or prolonged). Seven children (7%), 6 with afebrile and 1 with a febrile seizure, had CT abnormalities. ⋯ Children with afebrile focal seizures were more likely to have an abnormality than those with afebrile generalized seizures without focal components (13% and 4.9%, respectively). This study demonstrated a lower percentage of overall CT abnormalities, yet a similar percentage of "therapeutically important" abnormalities, in neurologically normal children with new onset of seizures when compared to previous reports of children with chronic seizures. Although an abnormal CT was more likely to be associated with an abnormal electroencephalogram, a normal result did not eliminate the possibility of an abnormal CT.
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Pediatric neurology · Nov 1988
Comparative StudyLorazepam versus diazepam for the treatment of status epilepticus.
A retrospective study was performed to compare intravenous lorazepam and intravenous diazepam in the treatment of status epilepticus. Forty-five episodes of status epilepticus in children between the ages of 2 weeks and 18 years were reviewed. ⋯ D. = 0.05 mg/kg). Among children treated with lorazepam, only children younger than 2 years of age had respiratory depression which required intubation.
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Pediatric neurology · Jul 1987
ReviewSomatosensory evoked potentials: Part I. A review of neural generators and special considerations in pediatrics.
Despite the recognition of evoked potentials in the late nineteenth century and the recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in 1947, there still is much to be learned about the origin of the SEP and its applications, particularly in the field of pediatric neurology. We summarize relevant data from the literature concerning the neural sources and present the currently accepted generators of the various peripheral, subcortical, and cortical components. The importance of factors such as growth, maturation, and the effects of sedation and sleep are discussed. The clinical applications of SEPs in pediatric neurology will be presented in Part II.
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Pediatric neurology · Jul 1987
Review Case ReportsRecurrent and pre-eruptive acute cerebellar ataxia: a rare case of varicella.
This is a report of an unusual case of acute cerebellar ataxia in which the ataxia recurred after a 6 week interval and the second episode of ataxia antedated the varicella exanthem by 19 days, suggesting the direct invasion of the central nervous system by the varicella virus.
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Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded in 73 comatose children upon admission to the intensive care unit and were studied in respect to initial neurologic status and final outcome. SEP results were graded normal, increased interpeak latencies, and unilaterally or bilaterally absent cortical responses. Of the 50 patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores less than 7 upon admission, only 3 had SEPs within the normal range, while 37 had unilaterally or bilaterally absent SEPs. ⋯ Subsequent studies are recommended in all patients, but are essential in those with Reye syndrome in order to be useful prognostically. The utility of SEPs did not vary as a function of coma etiology. These data support the usefulness of SEPs in early prediction of neurologic outcome in comatose children.