Prediction of epilepsy in febrile seizure

ABSTRACT

The EEG records of all referrals to the EEC Unit of Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC] in two years 125 in number were examined. The parents of 90 patients were interviewed 2-3 years after obtaining EEG records for evaluation of known predictors for development of non-febrile seizures or epilepsy. Development from febrile into non-febrile seizures was detected in 7.7% of the cases. The high incidence of epilepsy among the cases is probably due to methodological differences and patients selectivity. Factors such as recurrence rate and the presence of epileptigenic changes in the EEC were significantly related to the development of epilepsy. Meanwhile the difference between the febrile seizure and non-febrile seizure cases in age at onset and family involvement was important but did not reach significance: