Evaluation of Clinical, EEG, and Lumbar Puncture Findings of Patients with Complicated Febrile Seizure

Abstract

Introduction: Febrile seizure (convulsion) (FC) is a type of seizure which is accompanied by fever, without a history of neurological disease and central nervous system infection. It occurs in approximately 2–5% of children aged between 6 months and 5 years. Complex FC is a type of convulsion which is often accompanied by focal seizures, occurs again within 24 h, and/or lasts longer than 15 min. About 20–25% of patients experience complex FC.

Materials and Methods: Our study included 45 patients who applied to Ayd?n State Hospital Pediatric Neurology Clinic between July 2018 and July 2020 and Mersin City Training and Research Hospital between October 2020 and October 2021 with complex febrile seizures. Demographic and laboratory findings of the patients were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: Two hundred and seven patients with FC applied to our clinic. Forty-five (21.7%) of these patients had complex FC. Forty-five patients, who were diagnosed with complex FC, were included in the study. The mean age was 16.6 months. LP was performed in 29 (64.4%) patients, EEG was performed in 40 (88.9%) patients. Pleocytosis was detected in three (6.7%) patients, Streptococcus pneumonia was detected in CSF culture in one patient. H1N1 encephalitis was also observed in one of our patients. EEG was taken in all patients within the first 7 days. EEG abnormalities were detected in 5 (11.1%) patients.

Conclusion: The presence of postictal neurologic findings was considered as the most important risk factor for CNS infections in our study. It was thought that the detection of epileptiform abnormality in the EEGs of the patients might be relat