Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 134 (1998)Febrile Seizure: Risk Factors, Characteristics and Mode of Inheritance amongUAE childrenStudent Authors: Ebtesam Eid Khalfan Al-SuweidiFaculty Supervisors: Dr. A. Bener, Dr. N. PughAbstract:Objectives Febrile seizure is an event in infancy or childhood, usually occurringbetween 6 month and 5 years -of age, associated with fever but without evidence ofintracranial infection or other definable causes. Febrile seizure occurs in 2 - 5 % ofyoung children in the United State. There are several risk factors that could beassociated with febrile convulsion. It is important to find these factors to prevent latercomplication. To identify risk factors, describe the characteristics, and the mode ofinheritance of febrile seizure among UAE children.Methods The study was designed as a case-control study in which cases (patients withfebrile seizure) were identified and were matched to controls (febrile patients withoutseizure) with the same range of age (± 6 months), who attended the same hospital inthe same period of time. Data collection was carried out from January 1995 throughMay 1997 (period of 2 years & 5 months). Medical records of the index visit werereviewed and then mothers of cases and controls were interviewed by telephone. Ifthe mother was not available, the father or the grand mothers were interviewResults Risk factors for the UAE children found to be male gender, having respiratoryinfection, positive family history of febrile seizure which found to be of an autosomaldominant with incomplete or reduce penetration, prematurity, having vaginal delivery,and having abnormal developmental milestone. Febrile seizure found to have a peakincidence of first febrile seizure at time of the first birth day. It has a seasonalvariation, increase in winter and summer. The characteristics of the febrile seizure inthe UAE children found to be having seizure with 10 minutes duration and above butnot longer than 30 minutes mainly simple seizure, having only one attack at time ofadmission and having a high temperature with respiratory infection. Sixty eight pointsix percents found to have febrile seizure for the first time. Patient was managed byexcluding meningitis (by lumbar puncture in only a minority) and by medication suchas antipyretics, antibiotics, diazepam, and antiepileptic in some patients.Conclusion Febrile convulsion is one of the neurological disorders in infancy andchildhood that should be studied further to be able to detect high-risk children andprevent later complication. It is recommended to establish health educationalprograms for mothers about febrile convulsion and how to deal with the childrenduring the attack.