The Recurrence Rates of Febrile Seizures Related to the Degree of Fever / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recently, many studies on febrile convulsions again suggest that the degree of pyrexia may be related to the recurrence of febrile convulsions. In a previous study, we advocated that a low body temperature during the initial febrile convulsions is associated with an increase of recurrent febrile convulsions. Therefore, we have expanded the study by including 246 febrile convulsions during 6 years and investigated risk factors and especially the relationship between pyrexia and the recurrence rates. METHODS: Children with febrile convulsions were divided into three groups according to the degree of fever. Group I showed body temperatures higher than 39.5 degrees, group II from 38.5 to 39.4 degrees, and group III lower than 38.4 degrees. Then, we analyzed the recurrence rates of febrile convulsions. RESULTS: There occurred recurrent febrile convulsions in 19(41.3%) children with family history of febrile convulsion and 5(35.7%) children whose first-degree relatives diagnosed epilepsy. In group I, 5(13.5%) infants aged 6-18 months and 5(19.2%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. In group II, 22(36.1%) infants aged 6-18 months and 8(24.2%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. In group III, 21(42.0%) infants aged 6-18 months and 8(38.1%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. CONCLUSION: Children with a lower degree of pyrexia and also younger age at the onset of the first febrile convulsion were more susceptible to recurrent febrile convulsios than otherwise.