Age of presentation of febrile seizures and family history in children

Afsheen Batool Raza, Farrah Naz, Iftikhar Ijaz, Taeed Ahmed Butt, Iqbal Bano, Syeda Tahseen Fatima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Aim and Objective: 1. To see the difference in age for onset of febrile seizures between children with and without family history. 2. To know the etiology of febrile seizures among children presenting in Pediatric Medicine Department of Children's Hospital, Lahore. Patients and Methods: It was a prospective descriptive observational study carried out in the Department of Pediatric Medicine, The Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health Lahore from August 2010 to March 2012. Total 180 patients age between 3 months to 5 years were enrolled in the study. Data of all children with febrile seizures was recorded on special proforma which included history (demographic data, presenting complaints, duration of illness, developmental and birth history, family history of febrile seizures and epilepsy), complete clinical examination (vitals, head circumference and neurological examination) and investigations (complete blood count (TLC, DLC), serum electrolytes, ESR, urine complete, CXR (where needed). Seizures were considered as febrile by excluding infections of central nervous system on the basis of history, examination and relevant laboratory investigations. Treatment was given in the form of anticonvulsants, antipyretics and antibiotics. Results: Among 180 children, there were 54% males and 46% females. As far as age is concerned, 82 (45.6%) children were below one year, 38 (21.1%) between 1-2 years, 30 (16.7%) between 2-3, 18 (10%) between 3-4 and 12 (6.6 %) between 4-5 years of age. Febrile seizures were simple in 74 % and complex in 26 % of children. In children, average age at onset of febrile seizures with positive family history, was 11.4 months. Regarding etiology of febrile seizures, majority of the children (37.2%) had upper respiratory tract infections followed by acute watery diarrhea (17.2%), bronchopneumonia (8.3%) and others, whereas in 26.1% cases, no source of infection was found. Conclusion: In children with a positive family history, age of onset of febrile seizures is earlier as compared to children where such history is not present. So, family history is an important risk factor for febrile seizures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)121-125
Number of pages5
JournalPakistan Paediatric Journal
Volume38
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Family history
  • Febrile seizures
  • Upper respiratory tract infections

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