Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
Longitudinal assessment of skill development in children with first febrile seizure
Emily B Leaffer1, Veronica J Hinton, Dale C Hesdorffer
1Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Insights
First febrile seizures (FS) do not negatively impact child development. A study found no significant differences in cognition, motor skills, or adaptive behavior between children with and without FS over one year.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Child Neurology
Background:
- Febrile seizures (FS) are common in young children.
- Concerns exist regarding potential long-term developmental effects of a first FS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental outcomes of children experiencing their first febrile seizure.
- To compare cognitive, motor, and adaptive behaviors in children with and without FS.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 159 children with first FS and 142 controls (aged 6 months to 5 years) were recruited from an urban, low-income community.
- Children were assessed for cognitive, motor, and adaptive behaviors at baseline (within one month of ED visit) and one year later.
- Statistical analyses examined differences between groups and changes over time.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in cognitive or motor skill performance between children with and without FS at baseline or one year later.
- Adaptive behavior composite scores did not differ significantly at baseline or one year, though changes over time approached significance (p=0.05).
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that a first febrile seizure does not have detrimental effects on cognitive or motor development in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
- While adaptive behavior changes approached significance, overall developmental trajectories appear unaffected by a single FS event in this population.
Abstract:
To determine whether first febrile seizure (FS) has detrimental effects on development, 159 children (aged 6 months to 5 years) with FS were compared to 142 controls on measures of cognition, motor ability, and adaptive behavior. Participants were identified through the emergency department in an urban, low-income community. Children were evaluated within one month of the ED visit and one year later, and difference in performance over one year was examined. Performance did not differ between cases and controls on measures of cognition (baseline: p=0.5, one year: p=0.2, change over time: p=0.1) or motor skills (baseline: p=0.9, one year: p=0.7, change over time, p=0.6). The adaptive behavior composite score did not differ by FS case status at baseline (p=0.2) or one year later (p=0.6); however, between-group differences over time approached significance (p=0.05). Findings support the idea that first FS does not pose developmental or behavioral consequences in a low socioeconomic environment.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Seizures l: Introduction
01:13Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:19Seizures ll: Types