Related Experiment Videos
Febrile seizures in a south Indian district: incidence and associations
R Hackett1, L Hackett, P Bhakta
1Department of Psychiatry, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK.
Insights
Febrile seizures in Indian children occurred in 10.1%, often recurrent and linked to perinatal issues. However, no long-term intellectual or behavioral problems were found in children with febrile seizures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Febrile seizures are common in childhood.
- Understanding their incidence and long-term outcomes is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the lifetime incidence of febrile seizures in children aged 8-12 years in Calicut District, Kerala, India.
- To investigate associations between febrile seizures and perinatal adversity, illness, maternal education, and epilepsy development.
- To assess the intellectual and behavioral sequelae of febrile seizures.
Main Methods:
- A home-based survey of 1403 children aged 8-12 years was conducted.
- Neurological and psychometric assessments were performed on 1192 children.
- Statistical analysis was used to identify associations and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The projected lifetime incidence of febrile seizures was 10.1%.
- Recurrent febrile seizures were common and associated with perinatal adversity.
- Febrile seizures were linked to infective illness and lower maternal education.
- Epilepsy developed in 2.7% of children with a history of febrile seizures.
Conclusions:
- Febrile seizures have a significant incidence in this population.
- Perinatal factors and illness play a role in recurrent febrile seizures.
- Febrile seizures did not demonstrate adverse intellectual or behavioral outcomes in this study.
Abstract:
One thousand four hundred and three children participated in a home-based survey of psychiatric disorders in 8- to 12-year-old children in Calicut District, Kerala, India. One thousand one hundred and ninety-two consecutive children underwent neurological and psychometric assessments. The projected number of children with a history of febrile seizures was 120 giving a lifetime incidence of 10.1%. Recurrent febrille seizures predominated and these were strongly associated with a history of perinatal adversity. Febrile seizures were independently association with indices of infective illness and mothers' education. Epilepsy developed in 2.7% of children with febrile seizures, but no evidence was found that febrile seizures had adverse intellectual or behavioural sequelae.