Related Experiment Videos
Febrile seizures in Malaysian children: epidemiology and clinical features
C T Deng1, H I Zulkifli, B H Azizi
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Insights
Febrile seizures are common in Malaysian children, often occurring before age three. Most seizures were simple, non-recurrent, and linked to upper respiratory infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Febrile seizures are a frequent reason for pediatric hospital admissions in Malaysia.
- Understanding their clinical and epidemiological characteristics is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of children experiencing febrile seizures in Malaysia.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 117 children admitted to a general pediatric ward.
- Data collected included demographics, seizure characteristics, fever etiology, and family history.
Main Results:
- The study included 117 children (1.5:1 male to female ratio), with a majority being Malay (62.4%).
- Most first febrile seizures occurred before age three (92.9%), with the highest incidence in the 6-12 month age group.
- Complex febrile seizures were observed in 33.3% of cases, commonly associated with upper respiratory tract infections. A family history of seizures was present in 26.5%.
Conclusions:
- Febrile seizures in Malaysian children predominantly affect infants and toddlers, with a significant proportion exhibiting complex features.
- Upper respiratory tract infections are the primary fever trigger, and a notable percentage of patients have a family history of seizures.
Abstract:
A child with a febrile seizure is a common cause of admission in a general paediatric ward in Malaysia. We set out to look prospectively into the clinical and epidemiological features of these children. A total of 117 children were admitted into the study. The ratio of boys to girls were 1.5:1.0. The racial breakdown was 62.4% Malays, 26.5% Indians, 8.5% Chinese and 2.6% others. The first febrile seizure occurred before the age of three years in 92.9% of our patients. The highest number of febrile seizures was in the six to 12 months age group. The average length of seizure was 9.5 minutes and the majority were non-recurrent. Febrile seizures with complex features occurred in 33.3% of the children. Upper respiratory tract infection was the most common cause of fever in our patients. There was a family history of seizures (febrile or afebrile) in 26.5% of patients.