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Published on: February 16, 2022
Developmental and emotional behavioural outcomes after COVID-19 febrile seizures: A single-centre experience
1Department of Paediatric, School of Medicine, IMU University, Malaysia. ongjunjean@imu.edu.my.
Insights
COVID-19 febrile seizures in children did not lead to worse developmental or emotional outcomes compared to non-COVID-19 febrile seizures. This study assessed outcomes 9-18 months post-seizure, finding no increased risk for children infected with COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Febrile seizures typically have favorable long-term outcomes in children.
- The impact of COVID-19 on febrile seizure outcomes remains unclear.
- Investigating developmental and emotional/behavioral effects is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if COVID-19 infection influences the developmental and emotional/behavioral outcomes of children experiencing febrile seizures.
- To compare outcomes between children with and without COVID-19 during febrile seizures.
Main Methods:
- Study included families of children with febrile seizures from January to April 2022.
- Children assessed 9-18 months post-seizure using the Schedule of Growing Skills II and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
- COVID-19 positive cases defined by respiratory symptoms and positive rapid antigen test; comparisons made using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Main Results:
- Twenty-two families participated: 15 COVID-19 positive, 7 non-COVID-19.
- Developmental delays observed in 13.6-27.3% of children across both groups.
- No increased likelihood of developmental delay or emotional/behavioral difficulties in children with COVID-19 febrile seizures.
Conclusions:
- Children experiencing febrile seizures with COVID-19 infection are not at higher risk for developmental delay or emotional/behavioral issues.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs is recommended to confirm these findings.
Introduction:
Children with febrile seizures often experience favourable long-term outcomes. However, the outcomes of COVID-19 febrile seizures remain uncertain. The study investigated the developmental and emotional/behavioural outcomes of children with and without COVID-19, presenting with febrile seizures.
Materials And Methods:
Participants were families of children with febrile seizures admitted from January to April 2022, during the peak of COVID-19 Omicron variant infection cases. The children were assessed 9-18 months after the seizure event, using the Schedule of Growing Skills II developmental screening tool and their parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, a measure of emotional/behavioural outcome. A child with positive COVID-19 is characterised by the presence of respiratory symptoms and a positive COVID-19 rapid antigen test. We compared the outcomes of children with and without COVID- 19 using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Results:
Twenty-two families, with 15 (68.2%) COVID-19 and 7 (31.8%) non-COVID-19 febrile seizures participated in the study. A substantial proportion of children from both groups were delayed in various developmental domains (13.6- 27.3%), with 9 (40.9%) delayed in 2 or more domains and 2 (9.1%) experienced emotional behavioural difficulties. Children with COVID-19 febrile seizures were not more likely to have developmental delay and emotional/behavioural difficulties.
Conclusions:
Children with COVID-19 febrile seizures were not at greater risk of developmental delay or emotional/behavioural difficulties. Further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size are warranted.
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