Predictive Factors for Complex Versus Simple Febrile Convulsion In Children

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizure has a good prognosis, but may presented with status epilepticus and may raise the possibility of acquiring epilepsy later in life. These consequences are highly related to many features, including complex criteria.Objective: To investigate for factors which may be associated with increased incidence of complex febrile seizure.Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional comparative study done within 2013- 2014. The associations of febrile convulsion and its criteria with demographic and other characters of the patients were evaluated. Chi square was applied for statistical analysis. Results: Seventy six children were enrolled, male gender was 56.6% (n=43) and 39 (51.3%) of them were having complex febrile convulsion. There was no significant effect of age and sex on the type of febrile seizure; criteria of complex febrile seizure (prolonged, repetitive, and focal seizures) were unrelated among each other. Consanguinity marriage has a clear relationship with simple type (p value=.008), vaginal delivery was significantly associated with complex seizure (p value=0.047), non- respiratory causes of fever are associated with prolonged febrile seizure (p value= .024), while no differences between the types of febrile seizur regarding many other criteria, including anemia, body weight variations, previous febrile seizure, family history of febrile seizure, and others. Conclusion: There were only a few criteria predispose the child for complex febrile seizure, including non- respiratory causes of fever, vaginal delivery, non-consanguineous parents, and possibly prematurity; therefore complex febrile convulsion cannot be entirely predicted, but a trend can be expected if these mentioned factors were experienced.