Children Who Had Worsening of Food Refusal in Association with Control of Epileptic Seizures

Abstract

Objective:　To investigate the association of epileptic seizures with food refusal of infancy or young childhood onset.

Methods:　We retrospectively evaluated 4 children with intractable epilepsy who appeared to refuse to eat before the age of 7 years, which necessitated gavage feeding and/or a high density liquid diet.

Results:　All had mental retardation with autistic tendencies and intractable frequent epileptic seizures. The appearance or worsening of food refusal were associated with the reduction or control of the epileptic seizures in all of them. On the contrary, a worsening or recurrence of seizures resulted in the improvement or disappearance of food refusal.

Conclusion:　The clinical courses with the treatment suggested that the change in seizures per se, rather than a side effect of the antiepileptic drugs, was considered to have an effect on the food refusal. The control of epileptic seizures may induce or worsen food refusal of infancy or young childhood onset.