Abstract
Objectives To evaluate demographic, clinical and management aspects of febrile convulsions. Method A prospective study was carried out on all children admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital with a diagnosis of febrile convulsions during June and July 2002. Children with a history of afebrile seizures and those with evidence of a neurodevelopmental deficit or central nervous system infection were excluded. Data was obtained from medical records and direct interview of parents/guardians of children with febrile convulsions using a pre-tested validated questionnaire. Results 330 children were admitted with febrile convulsions. Male to female ratio was 3:2. The mean age was 22 months. Approximately 25% had a history of febrile convulsions in first degree relatives. 25% had complex febrile seizures. 80% of seizures occurred within 24 hours of the onset of fever. 24 (7%) children received long term prophylaxis for recurring febrile convulsions. Upper respiratory tract infection was the commonest trigger factor. 48% of the parents/guardians did not have a satisfactory knowledge of first aid. Key words: Febrile seizures, children doi: 10.4038/sljch.v34i4.389 Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health , 2005; 34: 109-13
Highlights
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) defines a febrile seizure as "a seizure occurring in childhood after one 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 criteria for other acute symptomatic seizures".Febrile seizures recur in 30-40%1, risk of subsequent epilepsy is low[2] and the neurological outcome is 1Senior Registrar in Paediatrics, 2Registrar in Paediatrics, 3Consultant Paediatrician, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo.(Received on 7 December 2004)
25% had a history of febrile convulsions in first degree relatives. 25% had complex febrile seizures. 80% of seizures occurred within 24 hours of the onset of fever. 24 (7%) children received long term prophylaxis for recurring febrile convulsions
All children admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) with a diagnosis of febrile convulsions were prospectively studied during June and July 2002
Summary
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) defines a febrile seizure as "a seizure occurring in childhood after one 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 criteria for other acute symptomatic seizures".Febrile seizures recur in 30-40%1, risk of subsequent epilepsy is low[2] and the neurological outcome is 1Senior Registrar in Paediatrics, 2Registrar in Paediatrics, 3Consultant Paediatrician, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo.(Received on 7 December 2004).
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