Retinal haemorrhages and convulsions

AIMS To evaluate the incidence of retinal haemorrhages after convulsions in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS All children who required hospital admission after an episode of convulsions were included in the study. Complete neurological and ocular examinations, including ophthalmoscopy, were undertaken within 48 hours of hospital admission. RESULTS Thirty three children were examined according to the protocol and their seizures were classified by a paediatric neurologist. Despite the fact that some of the children also vomited or underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, none of the 33 children developed retinal haemorrhages. CONCLUSIONS Convulsions rarely (if ever) give rise to retinal haemorrhages. The finding of retinal haemorrhages should stimulate a detailed assessment to exclude non-accidental injury, whatever the nature of the associated or antecedent events.