Who is at risk for status epilepticus?
Status epilepticus may occur in anyone who has seizure disorder, which is often called epilepsy. The condition often results from failure to take medications that are used to prevent seizures. It may also occur in response to such conditions as meningitis (infection of the fluid around the brain), brain tumor, head injury, extremely high fever or low blood pressure. It is also stated that children with no apparent risk factors may experience status epilepticus. The urgency in treating this condition, which according to the NIH results in death in 4 percent of its cases, allows for possible inclusion of children without their parents’ consent or input in deciding which of the drugs may be used. I state, for the record, I am a mother of two teen aged daughters. I am also the grandmother of two grandsons under the age of twelve. Why am I so riled about this study? Well, for one thing, it just so happens that I live not too far from one of the hospitals in this study. It is also a fact tha
