Introduction: Status epilepticus is a medical emergency associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The outcome is directly related to the underlying etiology. The aim of this study is to analyze the etiology of status epilepticus in infants and children.

Methods: From July 2000 to Oct 2013, 311 patients exhibiting with status epilepticus were admitted to the tertiary hospital. The definition of status epilepticus is seizure activity lasting longer than 30 minutes or unconsciousness between two seizure episodes.

Results: Variable etiologies could be identified. 42 patients (13.5%) exhibited infectious CNS diseases. 32 patients (10.3%)exhibited prolonged febrile seizures. 27  patients (8.7%)were fever-induced refractory epileptic encephalopathy. 89 patients (28.6%) had cryptogenic epilepsy exhibited status epilepticus, with poor drug compliance, aggravation by infectious disease, or disease process. 51 patients (16.4%)  were categorized metabolic diseases related status epilepticus, including mitochondrial diseases, lysosomal storage diseases, lipid storage disease, or Reye syndrome. 41 patients (13.2%) had underlying CNS diseases presenting with status epilepticus. 16 patients (5.1%) had acute brain insults-related status epilepticus, including intracranial hemorrhage, cerebrovascular infarction, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Seven patients had developmental defect, three patients had chromosomal disorders, and three had drug-related status epilepticus.

Conclusions: Multifactorial etiologies of status epilepticus in childhood are noted. Individual treatment strategies for status epilepticus must be initiated after initial general principle of medical treatment.