Evaluation of Demographic, Clinical, Laboratory Findings and Treatments of Our Febrile Seizures Cases

Abstract Febrile convulsions are seizures during febrile illness between the ages of 6-60 months without a central nervous system infection or any other cause (electrolyte imbalance, metabolic disorder, intoxication, trauma) and without previous afebrile convulsions. It is the most common disorder of childhood neurological diseases. In our study, we aimed to determine the characteristics among 200 patients who were diagnosed as febril convulsion at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Out-patient Clinic between January 2014-December 2018, to determine the risks of recurrence and development of epilepsy and patients’ response for different treatments. Our patients’ male / female ratio is 1,22 / 1, 78% term, 60% NSVY and 20% of them have difficulty in labor. Diagnose age was between 6-60 months, with a mean of 21,82 ± 12,69 months. It was mostly seen under age of 2 (79%). Family history of febril seizure and epilepsy is %25 and 10 respectively. The common fever cause was upper respiratory system infections (83%). 41% was simple, 52,5% was complicated, and 82% was generalized tonic clonic. The recurrence rate was 22,5%. 8% of patients had abnormal EEG and they have higher recurrence rate. When the laboratory values were evaluated in terms of seizure recurrence and epilepsy, it was found that patients with recurrence have higher C-reaktive protein levels than those with epilepsy. Patients with seizures below 38,3ºC, abnormal EEG and recurrence, have high rate of epilepsy. Prophylaxis includes continuous antiepileptic, intermittant rectal diazepam and antipyretic. In our study recurrence after treatment in both seizure types is higher than those without treatment, but risk of developing epilepsy is not associated with treatment. As a result; it is benign disease. Following-up is important because of the high recurrence rate and risk of epilepsy compared to general population. We found no significant difference between the treatments in preventing recurrence, but rectal diazepam may be preferred in those who received less recurrence, since it is easy to apply and has few side effects.