Demographic characteristics of patients presented to pediatric emergency department with febrile seizure and identification of risk factors for recurrence

Abstract

Objective: Febrile convulsion is the most frequently observed type of convulsion in childhood. Our aim in this study is to identify etiological factors, risk factors for recurrence and recurrence rate by determining demographic characteristics of the patients with febrile convulsions. Methods: We identified etiological factors, risk factors for recurrence and recurrence rates by retrospectively determining sociodemographic characteristics of 500 patients with available medical files who presented with febrile convulsions to Pediatric Emergency Outpatient Department of Erciyes University. Results: The male: female ratio was 1.14: 1. Mean age of the patients was 26.920 +/- 18.366 months. There was a positive family history of febrile convulsions in 35.8% of the patients. Simple febrile convulsions were observed in 80.8% whereas complicated febrile seizures in 19.2% of the patients. In our study, body temperature was below 39 degrees C during convulsions in 88.6%, while it was above 39 degrees C in 11.4% of the patients. In agreement with the literature, the risk factors for febrile convulsions included age younger than 18 months and family history of febrile convulsions in our study. In our study, the parameters causing recurrence of febrile convulsions were detected as experiencing febrile seizure before 18 months of age, family history of febrile seizure, family history of epilepsy and body temperature below 39 degrees C during seizure. Conclusion: The likelihood of recurrence of febrile convulsions was higher in children with positive family history for febrile seizure, those experiencing febrile convulsions before 18 months of age and/or at low body temperature. Knowing risk factors for recurrence of febrile convulsions is important for providing accurate information to parents, relieving anxiety levels and preventing unnecessary prophylactic therapies.