Antecedents and Outcome of Simple and Complex Febrile Convulsions Among Saudi Children

Abstract

SUMMARY Of 215 Saudi children seen with their first febrile convulsion (FC) at the King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, between January 1984 and December 1988, the index FC was simple for 133 children and complex for the remaining 82. History of adverse antecedent factors, particularly perinatal asphyxia, birth injuries and pre‐existing neurological deficits, were significantly more associated with complex FC, as was occurrence of first FC before the age of 12 months. Recurrence of FCs and development of epilepsy were also more common among the group of children with complex FC. Complex FCs were less benign in the present study population than has been reported in some Western studies. RÉSUMÉ Antécédents et devenir des convulsions fébriles simples et complexes farmi les enfants saoudiens Parmi 215 enfants saoudiens avec une première convulsion febrile (FC) vus au King Khalid University. Hospital de Riyadh entre Janvier 1984 et decembre 1988, l'index (FC) fut simple pour 133 enfants et complexe pour les 82 restants. L'histoire de facteurs extérieurs défavorables notamment une asphyxie périnatale, des lésions à la naissance et des déficits neurologiques pré‐existants était significativement davantage associée avec des FC complexes, lorsque la première FC se situait avant l'âge de 12 mois. La récidive des FC et le développement d'une épilepsie étaient également plus fréquents dans le groupe des enfants avec FC complexes. Les FC complexes sont apparus moins bénignes dans l'étude de population présente qu'il n'avait été rapporté dans quelques études occidentales. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Initialsymptome und Verlauf einfacher und komplexer Fieberkrämpfe bei saudischen Kindern Von 125 saudischen Kindern, die im König Khalid Universitätskrankenhaus in Riad von Januar 1984 bis Dezember 1988 wegen ihres ersten Fieberkrampfes (FC) behandelt wurden, hatten 133 einen einfachen und die restlichen 82 einen komplexen Fieberkrampf. Bei Kindern mit komplexem FC fanden sich in der Anamnese signifikant häufiger pathologische Vorbefunde, wie perinatale Asphyxie, Geburtsverletzungen und schon bestehende neurologischen Störungen, sowie sie häufiger ihren ersten FC im ersten Lebensjahr hatten. Rekurrierende FCs und Entwicklung von Epilepsie waren bei den Kindern mit komplexem FC ebenfalls häufiger. Die komplexen FCs waren bei den hier untersuchten Kindern weniger gutartig als dies in einigen westlichen Untersuchungen dargestellt wurde. RESUMEN Antecedentes y curso posterior de las convulsiones febriles simplesy complejas en niños de Arabia Saudi De 215 niños Saudies vistos por su primera convulsion febril (CF) en el Hospital Universitario Rey Khalid en Riyadh entre enero de 1984 y diciembre de de 1988, 133 tenían una CF simple y el resto de 82 la tenían compleja. Una historia de factores antecedentes adversos, en especial asfixia perinatal, lesiones del parto y deficits neurológicos preexistentes estaban mas asoctados signoficativamente con CF complejas asi como la aparición de la primera CF antes de los 12 meses de edad. La reiteración de l...

Genetics and environmental risk factors associated with febrile seizures

“…Overall, our findings are in agreement with other studies which showed a strong evidence of a positive family history as a risk factor for febrile seizure [3,[7][8][9][10][11][12]15]. A study from the United States found a family history of febrile seizure to be a very strong risk factor for having febrile seizure and 25% of their cases had a family history in the first degree of relatives [3].…”

“…In our study, respiratory infections were found to be a risk factor. This is consistent with a study from Saudi Arabia which observed that 73% of cases had upper respiratory infections as a cause of their fever [12]. Similarly, in Nigeria, the main cause for the fever was found to be malaria [15].…”

“…In Kuwait, the two groups did not differ significantly in respect to a family history of seizures and epilepsy [11]. In Saudi Arabia 37% of cases had a family history of febrile seizures [12] in addition to a history of febrile seizures and epilepsy in parents or siblings. This was more common among children with a complex febrile seizure than among those with a simple febrile seizure [7,8,10].…”

“…Another study found it to be slightly higher and equal to 16 months in a range of 6 to 47 months [2]. A study in Saudi Arabia found a higher figure, at 17.2 months [12]. Sixty five percent were found to have febrile seizures for first time.…”

Clinical Profile of Febrile Seizure in Children: A Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…In the present study, complex seizures occurred in 14% of cases and simple seizures in 86%. In a study by al-Eissa et al, in 1992, 38% were of complex seizure and 62% cases were simple [18]. However, another study has shown complex febrile seizure in 61.83 % of cases [8].…”