Key result
Influenza A, influenza B, and parainfluenza 3 infections were significantly associated with excess accident and emergency attendances for febrile seizures, whereas hand, foot and mouth disease was not.
Why the study?
Does epidemic activity of respiratory viruses and HFMD increase hospital attendances for febrile seizures in children?
Observational
No
Does epidemic activity of respiratory viruses and HFMD increase hospital attendances for febrile seizures in children?
Effect estimate: 0.47 excess cases (95% CI 0.40-0.55)
p-value: p=<0.0001
Influenza A, B, and parainfluenza 3 epidemic activity, but not HFMD, are significantly associated with increased pediatric emergency attendances for febrile seizures, supporting the need for routine seasonal influenza vaccination in young children.
Febrile seizure attendances were associated with influenza A/B and parainfluenza 3 activity; hypothesis-generating for vaccination effects in young children.
Febrile seizure (FS) in children is a common complication of infections with respiratory viruses and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). We conducted a retrospective ecological time-series analysis to determine the temporal relationship between hospital attendances for FS and HFMD or respiratory virus infections. Epilepsy attendance was used as a control. Data from 2004 to 2012 FS and epilepsy hospital attendance, HFMD notifications to the Ministry of Health and from laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections among KK Women's and Children's Hospital inpatients were used. A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between FS and the virus time series. Relative risks of FS by age were calculated using Bayesian statistical methods. Paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for FS were found to be associated with influenza A (extra 0.47 FS per influenza A case), B (extra 0.32 per influenza B case) and parainfluenza 3 (extra 0.35 per parainfluenza type 3 case). However, other viruses were not significantly associated with FS. None of the viruses were associated with epileptic seizure attendance. Influenza A, B and parainfluenza 3 viruses contributed to the burden of FS resulting in A&E attendance. Children at risk of FS should be advised to receive seasonal influenza vaccination.
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Chen et al. (2018) conducted an observational in Febrile seizures. Influenza A infection vs. Baseline incidence was evaluated on Excess accident and emergency attendances for febrile seizures per Influenza A case (0.47 excess cases, 95% CI 0.40-0.55, p=<0.0001). Influenza A, influenza B, and parainfluenza 3 infections were significantly associated with excess accident and emergency attendances for febrile seizures, whereas hand, foot and mouth disease was not.
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