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Award-winning study helps prevent life-threatening seizures in childhood20 November 2008A North London research network has won a national award for studies that could help save the lives of children with prolonged seizures, a condition that frequently strikes without warning. Many children in transit to Accident and Emergency, or on arrival, were shown to be given treatments which were not the most effective available. The study, which will help develop firm guidance on the best treatments for this distressing disorder, was recognised by the Bupa Foundation, winning the medical research charity's Epidemiology Award 2008. Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is the most common neurological emergency of children with an incidence between 17-23 episodes per 100,000 children per year. It consists of seizures lasting more than 30 minutes, without recovery of consciousness and can cause brain damage and death. The North London Convulsive Status Epilepticus in Childhood Surveillance Study is the first major study of CSE in children. The study looked at 240 episodes, in 182 children, in North London, between 2002 and 2004 and brought together 18 hospitals, five paediatric intensive care units and the children's acute transport service operating in the local area. Dr Richard Chin, UCL Institute of Child Health and project lead for the study, said: "Previous studies have focused on CSE in adults but we have shown that the incidence in children is four times higher and is associated with different causes. For parents, this is a frightening and potentially very serious condition, often occurring in children without any pre-existing neurological problems. "Our study provides evidence for the benefit of early and aggressive treatment, which drugs should be used, their doses, and how they are administered so that the effects of this disorder in childhood can be reduced. Winning the Bupa Foundation Epidemiology Award has been a great acknowledgement of our work and will help us to take this study to the next level". Bupa's group medical director and vice-chairman of the Bupa Foundation, Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, said: "The team's work has important implications for health advice to parents and doctors caring for these children and will help to answer key clinical questions on the long term outcomes of childhood CSE". Dr Chin received his Bupa Foundation award at a ceremony at Lincoln's Inn in London on the evening of 12 November 2008. For more information about the Bupa Foundation awards, visit www.bupafoundation.com Back to the latest press releases
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