Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's
Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran | Research Department, Infectious Disease Research
Center, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Note: [] Correspondence: Moayedi Ali Reza, M.D., Department of Pediatric
Neurology, Children's Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences,
Golshahr St. Bandar Abbas, Iran. Tel.: +98 76166662402; Fax: +98 6761667201;
E-mail: armoyedi@yahoo.com
Abstract: To evaluate the risk factors for recurrence in febrile seizures, a
prospective study was conducted in children with first time febrile seizures.
Factors recorded include 1) family history of febrile seizures, 2) family
history of epilepsy, 3) type of febrile seizures (focal or generalized), 4)
developmental status and neurological examination of the patient 5) patients'
age and temperature. For each patient an electroencephalography (EEG) was
recorded within 2 weeks of seizures and EEGs having epileptiform waves were
considered abnormal. Patients were followed from March 2003 until February 2005
for seizure recurrence. Of 98 children included in the study, 68 (60.4%)
were boys and 38 (39.4%) girls. Sixty patients were in the age group of 1–3
years (62.5%) and 80 in age group of 6 months – 3 years (83.3%). Recurrence
of febrile seizures was seen in 34 cases (35.4%). Recurrence rate in
children less than 12 months of age was 45%, in children aged 1–3 years it
was 28% and in children older than 3 years 25%. There was a significant
correlation between age less than 12 months and recurrence of febrile seizures
(P < 0.05). In patients with a positive family history, recurrence rate was
38.9% and in those with negative family history it was 22% (P <
0.05). Abnormal EEG was seen in 16% of girls and 34% boys. In
conclusion, recurrence of febrile seizures is more frequent during the first
year after initial seizure, with age less than 12 months and in patients with a
positive family history for febrile seizures.
Keywords: Febrile seizures, predictors of recurrence, electroencephalography
