Evaluation of clinical characteristics between febrile seizures and generalized epilepsy febrile seizure plus

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to compare the characteristics of febrile seizure (FS) and generalized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus (GEFS+) in terms of their clinical prognosis and treatment. Among the 95 patients between 5-18 years of age included in this single-center retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based study, 55 and 40 patients were diagnosed with FS and GEFS+, respectively. Clinical characteristics, family history, and treatment responses of both groups were statistically compared. The FS and GEFS+ groups were not significantly different in terms of the median and mean ages for the onset of FS. Prolonged FS was seen as significantly higher in the FS group than in the GEFS+ group (p=0.014). The mean age of afebrile seizure was 3.5 years in the GEFS+ group. The prevalence of febrile/afebrile seizures in the family was significantly higher in the GEFS+ group than in the FS group. Febrile seizure recurrence risk was significantly higher in GEFS + group. The rate of seizure recurrence was low in both groups, particularly in patients receiving anti-epileptic treatment. Levetiracetam was found to be effective in preventing seizures in both groups. It is important to investigate the risk factors for the development of GEFs in patients presenting with FS.