Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Febrile convulsion is the most common type of convulsion in childhood. To identify etiological factors, risk factors for recurrence and recurrence rate by determining demographic characteristics of patients with febrile seizure.

METHODS

We identified etiological factors, risk factors for recurrence and recurrence rate by determining sociodemographic characteristics of 500 patients with available patient file who presented with febrile seizure to Pediatric Emergency Department of Erciyes University.

RESULTS

The male: female ratio was 1.14: 1. Mean age was 26.920±18.366 months. There was a positive family history of febrile seizure in 35.8% of the patients. A simple febrile seizure was observed in 80.8% whereas complicated febrile seizure in 19.2% of the patients. In our study, body temperature was below 39°C during seizure in 88.6%, while it was above 39°C in 11.4% of the patients. In agreement with literature, the risk factors for febrile seizure included age younger than 18 months and family history of febrile seizure in our study. In our study, the parameters causing recurrence of febrile seizure were detected as febrile seizure before 18 months of age, family history of febrile seizure, family history of epilepsy and body temperature below 39°C during seizure.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The likelihood of febrile seizure recurrence was higher in children with positive family history for febrile seizure, those having febrile seizure before 18 months of age and/or at low body temperature. The understanding of risk factors for febrile seizure recurrence is important for providing accurate information to parents, relieving anxiety levels and preventing unnecessary prophylactic therapies.