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The assessment of risk factors for febrile seizures in children
Affiliations- Department of Emergency Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Specialised Health Care Centre for Mother and Child, Poznan, Poland
- Chair and Department of Developmental Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Abstract
The aim of the paper was to assess the risk factors of febrile seizures in children.
MethodsThe paper presents an analysis of a group of 176 children aged 6 months to 5 years who were admitted to A&E because of febrile seizures.
ResultsThe analysed group of 176 children comprised 61.96% boys and 38.07% girls, and the average age equalled 23 months. Family history was significant in 9.66% of patients. A statistically significant difference was noticed between insignificant family history and the incidence of febrile seizures. In all the studied groups of children the factor that determined the incidence of febrile seizures was a sudden increase in the body temperature with an infection of the upper respiratory tract of several day's duration as another cause. Febrile seizure incident was most frequently associated with a sudden increase in the body temperature in 53.40% children. A statistically significant difference was observed between persisting fever and an increase thereof during the day. Yet another factor predisposing for febrile seizures incidence was an infection of the upper respiratory system that could be observed in 32.95% patients. The mean body temperature when the seizures occurred was 38.9°C.
ConclusionsA sudden increase in the body temperature within the first day of pyrexia predisposes for the incidence of febrile seizures and it was proved that it depends on how long fever persists during the day. The other factor triggering the seizures was an infection of the upper respiratory tract of several days’ duration.
Abstract
The aim of the paper was to assess the risk factors of febrile seizures in children.
MethodsThe paper presents an analysis of a group of 176 children aged 6 months to 5 years who were admitted to A&E because of febrile seizures.
ResultsThe analysed group of 176 children comprised 61.96% boys and 38.07% girls, and the average age equalled 23 months. Family history was significant in 9.66% of patients. A statistically significant difference was noticed between insignificant family history and the incidence of febrile seizures. In all the studied groups of children the factor that determined the incidence of febrile seizures was a sudden increase in the body temperature with an infection of the upper respiratory tract of several day's duration as another cause. Febrile seizure incident was most frequently associated with a sudden increase in the body temperature in 53.40% children. A statistically significant difference was observed between persisting fever and an increase thereof during the day. Yet another factor predisposing for febrile seizures incidence was an infection of the upper respiratory system that could be observed in 32.95% patients. The mean body temperature when the seizures occurred was 38.9°C.
ConclusionsA sudden increase in the body temperature within the first day of pyrexia predisposes for the incidence of febrile seizures and it was proved that it depends on how long fever persists during the day. The other factor triggering the seizures was an infection of the upper respiratory tract of several days’ duration.
Keywords
Risk factors, Children, Febrile seizures
About this articleTitle
The assessment of risk factors for febrile seizures in children
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
454-458
Page views
1093
Article views/downloads
1122
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2017.07.011
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2017;51(6):454-458.
Keywords
Risk factors
Children
Febrile seizures
Authors
Krystyna Gontko-Romanowska
Zbigniew Żaba
Paweł Panieński
Barbara Steinborn
Michał Szemień
Magdalena Łukasik-Głębocka
Krystian Ratajczak
Adrian Chrobak
Joanna Mitkowska
Jacek Górny
