A Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis of First-time Febrile Seizures in Children
Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 11
Abstract
Background: Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common neurological disorder observed in the pediatric age group. In pediatric practice, seizures account for 1% of all emergency visits. They are usually defined as seizures occurring after 1 month of age associated with a febrile illness not caused by an infection of the central nervous system, without previous neonatal seizures or a previous unprovoked seizure, and not meeting the criteria for other acute symptomatic seizures. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and epidemiological spectrum in children with a first attack of acute seizure disorder and its prevalence rates of various etiologies. Materials and Methods: A total of 127 children presenting with FSs to the emergency department were evaluated at a tertiary teaching hospital of Kerala between October 2015 and September 2017. Demographic details, clinical findings, laboratory investigations, computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan brain studies, diagnoses, and hospital course were compared between FSs and patients with AFSs. These variables were also compared between patients with simple and complex FSs and among different age groups. Observations and Results: Among 127 patients, 80 children presented with FSs (62.99%) and the remaining children with AFSs 47 (37%). 68/80 children (85%) presenting with FSs were aged below 6 years. The type of seizures was generalized tonic/clonic seizures in 49/80 of the febrile group (61.25%). The etiologies observed were electrolyte imbalance and hypoglycemia. CT scan was done in 45/127 (35.43%) children and found to be abnormal in 15/45 children (35.55%). Similarly, MRI scan was done in 18/127 (14.17%) children and found to be abnormal in 9/18 children (50%). Conclusion: Primary care pediatricians should evaluate children presenting to the ED with a first seizure for age, coexistence of fever, seizure type, associated symptoms, and history of head injury. Routine investigations of electrolytes, blood sugar, and emergency brain imaging studies should be arranged based on detailed history taking and thorough physical examinations but should not be performed routinely.
Authors and Affiliations
K Niyas Ahammed, A V Bijumon
Keywords
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