Risk Factors for Recurrence of Febrile seizures in Children with first episode of febrile seizure at Nongkhai Hospital

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizure is the most common neurologic disorder in infants and young children. The aim of  the study was to determine the risk factors for  recurrence of febrile seizures in order to educate  the parents and therefore help to ease their concerns.

Objective: To study risk factors of recurrent febrile seizures in children who presented to Nongkhai hospital with first episode of febrile seizure.

Method: A retrospective study which is compiled by reviewed 331 children (6 months to 5 years of age) who were admitted to Nongkhai hospital with diagnosis of first episode of febrile seizure, during October 2011 until September 2013. Database regarding these children which include age, gender and description of seizure, were collected from medical records. Afterwards, one year record review in these group was made from medical records and by telephone during October 2013 until September 2014 . Information about these children including recurrent febrile seizure and factors for recurrence of febrile seizures

Results: Total of  331 cases were enrolled, 198 boys (59.81%) and 133 girls (40.19%),  the mean  age was 25.94 months. The mean of first measured body temperature and duration between the onset of the fever and the initial seizure were 38.72^oC and 29.10 hours respectively. Pharyngitis was found to be the most common cause of fever (37.80%). Afterwards, one year record review in these group was made from medical records and by telephone during October 2013 until September 2014 . The result found 70 children who experienced recurrent febrile seizures from 331 cases with diagnosis of first episode febrile seizure, 36 cases (51.40%) occurred before 6 months and 34 cases (48.60%) occurred after 6 months of their initial episode. The mean  age was 22.23 months, 38 boys (54.28%) and 32 girls (45.72%).      Risk factors  that  related to recurrent febrile seizure were family  history of  febrile  seizure (OR 8.80, 95% CI 4.69-16.53, P-value <0.001) and  the duration of fever between 1 and 24 hours before the seizure (OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.36-7.21, P-value 0.014).

 Conclusion: Risk factors associated with the risk of recurrence of febrile seizure were a family history of febrile seizure and 1-24 hours duration between the onset of  fever  and  the  initial seizure.

 Keywords: febrile seizure,  recurrent febrile seizure,  factors for recurrence of febrile seizures