Risk factors of febrile seizures in children attending Mukalla City Hospital-Yemen

Abstract EN

-Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common form of childhood seizures.

The aim of this study is to determine the possible risk factors for first febrile convulsions.In this case-control study 100 children aged 6 to 60 months with febrile seizures (FSs) (study group), who were admitted to pediatric departments of Mukalla city hospital, Mukalla,Yemen in between January 2015 and December 2015 were evaluated.

They were matched with controls by the same age range(6 to 60 months),who had fever but without seizure.

Data on children eligible for the study, including socio-demographic, child’s illness, neonatal history, developmental milestone and family history of FSs or epilepsy data.

Complete blood count and plasma ferritin ( PF) were performed in children with febrile seizures (FSs) and in controls.The results revealed the mean age of the study and control groups were 23.96±15.75and 24.31 ± 14.40 months, respectively(P>0.05).The highest frequency of cases with FSs were in children aged 1–2 years( 48%).

FSs with simple features were seen in 84(84%) patients and complex seizure in16 (16%).

It was found that male (odds ratio (OR)1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI)1.04 - 3.24, p.

value = 0.03), family history of febrile seizure(OR= 10.78, 95% CI: 3.63 to 31.95, p.

value = 0.0001), family history of epilepsy(OR= 4.84, 95% CI: 1.01 to 23.02, p.

value = 0.04) and Iron Deficiency Anemia(IDA)(OR= 3.66, 95% CI: 2.01 to 6.68, p.

value = 0.0001),were the main risk factors of FSs.