[Vaccination, febrile seizures and epilepsy]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Vaccination is crucial for public health but can be associated with adverse events.
• Neurological complications, such as febrile seizures (FS), are a concern for parents and healthcare providers.
• Understanding the true risk-benefit profile of vaccines is essential for informed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the risk of vaccination complications, focusing on neurological adverse events.
• To clarify the relationship between specific vaccines and the provocation of febrile seizures (FS).
• To examine international and Russian vaccination recommendations for children with specific neurological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific articles and clinical studies.
• Analysis of vaccine-associated adverse events, particularly febrile seizures.
• Compilation and comparison of international and Russian vaccination guidelines.

Main Results:

• Certain vaccines (pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus) can provoke FS but are not their underlying cause.
• The risk of FS following vaccination is not reduced by delaying immunization to an older age.
• Specific recommendations exist for vaccinating children with epilepsy, West syndrome, and Dravet syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Vaccination complications, including FS, are generally rare and do not outweigh the benefits of immunization.
• Delaying vaccination is not a strategy to prevent vaccine-associated febrile seizures.
• Current guidelines support vaccination for children with epilepsy and related syndromes, with considerations for specific protocols.