Related Experiment Videos
Long-term outcome of children with febrile seizures
1Department of Neurology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Long-term follow-up of febrile seizures (FS) in Singaporean children shows no deaths or permanent neurological deficits. However, prolonged FS and family history of epilepsy increase the risk of subsequent afebrile seizures (AFS).
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Febrile seizures (FS) are common in childhood.
- Understanding the long-term outcomes of FS is crucial for clinical management and parental counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term outcomes of children hospitalized for febrile seizures in Singapore.
- To identify risk factors for subsequent afebrile seizures (AFS) and epilepsy after an initial FS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records of 479 children admitted for FS between 1981-1982.
- Follow-up conducted in 1988 to assess neurological outcomes, occurrence of AFS, and epilepsy.
- Statistical analysis to determine predictors of AFS and epilepsy.
Main Results:
- No deaths or permanent neurological deficits were observed in the 476 children followed up.
- The incidence of epilepsy was 1.0%.
- Children with FS lasting ≥30 minutes had a significantly higher incidence of unprovoked AFS (12.1%) compared to those with FS <30 minutes (1.4%).
- A family history of epilepsy or fits was associated with an increased risk of AFS (9.1%) compared to no family history or FS-only history (1.6%).
- Sex, race, age of onset, recurrent FS, and EEG findings were not significant predictors.
Conclusions:
- Febrile seizures in this cohort had a benign long-term outcome with no permanent neurological deficits.
- Prolonged febrile seizures and a family history of epilepsy are significant risk factors for subsequent afebrile seizures.
- Epilepsy developed in a small proportion of children following febrile seizures.
Abstract:
This study investigates the long-term outcome of children admitted to hospital for febrile seizures (FS) in Singapore. Children born between 1/1/1980 and 31/12/1982 who were admitted to the Singapore General Hospital between 1/1/81 and 31/12/82 with FS were the subjects of this study. Four hundred and seventy-nine children were identified. Their medical records were analysed. Four hundred and seventy-six children (99.4%) were traced in 1988. The average age at follow up was 7.3 years. There were no deaths or permanent neurological deficits from FS. Eighteen children had one or more afebrile seizure (AFS) following the initial FS. In 8 children a condition precipitating the AFS could be identified. Ten children (2.1%) had unprovoked AFS. Five children had one AFS, and the other 5 had more than one AFS. The incidence of epilepsy was 1.0%. Children with a FS lasting 30 minutes or more had a higher incidence of subsequent unprovoked AFS compared to children whose FS were less than 30 minutes. The incidences were 12.1% and 1.4% respectively (p = 0.003). Children with a family history of epilepsy and/or fits had an increased risk compared to children with no family history of fits or with a family history of FS only. The incidence were 9.1% and 1.6% respectively (p = .027). Sex, race, age of onset of FS, total number of recurrent FS and EEG findings were not significant predicators.