To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of children with status epilepticus(SE) as an initial seizure and to compare these according to age groups.

The 78 cases(38 cases <2 years and 38 cases ≥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.

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 ≥2 years). The estimated occurrence of epilepsy after SE was 24.4 percent( 19 cases : 8 cases <2 years and 11 cases ≥2 years). The neurologic sequelae after SE in cases that had developed normally before SE(62 cases : 32 cases <2 years and 30 cases ≥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).

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.