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Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with First Episode Febrile Seizure
Indar Kumar Sharawat1, Jitender Singh2, Lesa Dawman3
1Senior Resident, Department of Pediatric Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
Insights
Male gender, family history, and antenatal complications are key risk factors for first febrile seizures in children. Addressing these, along with nutritional deficiencies and low electrolytes, may help reduce FS incidence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common seizure type in children aged 6 months to 5 years.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for managing and preventing FS episodes in at-risk children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate risk factors associated with the first episode of febrile seizures in Indian children.
- To inform preventive strategies for children susceptible to FS.
Main Methods:
- A hospital-based case-control study comparing 70 children with their first FS episode to 70 controls with fever but no seizures.
- Data collected on various risk factors including demographics, family history, fever characteristics, antenatal history, and biochemical parameters.
Main Results:
- Male gender (2:1 ratio) and positive family history were more common in cases.
- Higher incidence of antenatal complications observed in the FS group.
- Cases showed significantly lower serum calcium, sodium, and random blood sugar levels.
- Microcytic hypochromic anemia (low hemoglobin, MCV, MCH; high RDW) was prevalent in children with FS.
Conclusions:
- Male gender, family history of FS, high fever, specific fever causes (like URI), antenatal complications, low serum electrolytes, low blood sugar, and anemia are significant risk factors for first FS.
- Targeting these modifiable risk factors can potentially decrease the incidence of febrile seizures.
Introduction:
Febrile seizure (FS) is the single most common type of seizure seen in children between 6 months to 5 years of age. The purpose of our study was to identify the risk factors associated with the first episode of febrile seizures, which would help in the better management and preventive measures in children at risk for FS episodes.
Aim:
To evaluate the risk factors associated with the first episode of febrile seizures in Indian children.
Materials And Methods:
This was a hospital based, case control study. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the first FS episode in children. Seventy (70) children between age 6 months to 5 years with their first episode of FS were compared with 70 children with fever but without seizures based on various risk factors.
Results:
The mean age was 24.90±16.11 months in cases and 26.34±16.93 months in controls. Male: female ratio was 2:1. A positive family history was found in 31.4% of first degree and 11.4% in second degree relatives. Mean maximum temperature was 102.06±1.1°F and URI (upper respiratory infection) was most common cause of fever. Antenatal complication was significantly higher in the case group. RBC (Red Blood Cells) indices like lower mean haemoglobin, MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin concentration) and higher RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width) values were seen in patients. Serum sodium, Serum calcium and random blood sugar values of the cases were significantly lower than those of controls (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Our study shows that male gender, family history of febrile seizures, peak body temperature, underlying cause of fever, antenatal complications, low serum calcium, sodium, blood sugar and microcytic hypochromic anaemia are the risk factors associated with the occurrence of first episode of febrile seizure and, thus, preventive measures in removing these risk factors could lead to a decrease in incidence of FS.
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