Children frequently present with altered or reduced consciousness levels to emergency departments. By using EEG monitoring, subclinical seizure activity may be detected, leading to earlier pharmacological intervention and improved outcomes. Post-ictal phases that may be interpreted as seizure activity may become less over-treated. A feasibility study will ascertain if EEG monitoring can be applied successfully in this cohort, within a specified time period, obtaining minimum artefact (defined as < 25% artefact). EEG recordings will not be used to guide clinical management during this feasibility study.

See study protocol attached

Inclusion Criteria:

Children between 0 and 15 years and 11 months who present to Resuscitation Room, ED, CUH with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 11 or, a reduction in baseline GCS in the case of children with significant neurodisability at baseline

Exclusion Criteria:

• Polytrauma
• Open head wounds
• Unstable airway or requirement for bag and mask ventilation, where cap application would affect clinical management

The study population is all children between 0 years and 15 years and 11 months who present to the Resuscitation room of the Emergency Department of Cork University Hospital. Children can have underlying co-morbidities ( eg neurodisability, epilepsy) or be their first time presenting to a hospital.