Febrile convulsions: risk factors and therapeutic options

ABSTRACT

Febrile convulsions [FCs] are the most common cause of seizure disorder in childhood, occurring in 2-5% of children.[1] The aim of the present study is to evaluate if there is any clinical or electroencephalographic findings that exist as predictives of the risk of recurrence of febrile convulsions [FC]. The study included 118 children [73 boys and 45 girls] with febrile convulsions who were evaluated clinically and by EEG. The patients received various types of prophylaxis to prevent recurrence of FC and patients were followed up for 2 years. It was observed that both intermittent oral diazepam and continous sodium valproate prophylaxis equally induced significant reduction in the recurrence of FC in patients receiving prophylaxis than patients without prophylaxis. There was significantly higher recurrence risk of FC associated with younger age of onset, positive family history of FC, complex features of FC [as focal, prolonged or recurrence in clusters] early onset of FC to onset of fever, occurrence of FC at lower grades of fever and higher frequency of febrile illnesses. EEG findings have no relation to recurrence of FC