Abstract

Aim: A febril e convulsion is a seizure occuring in a child aged from six months to five years, precipitated by a fever arising from infection outside the nervous system in a child who is otherwise neurologically normal. This study was designed to evaluate the sociodemographical, etiological and clinical findings of patients with febrile convulsions who have a considerable ratio of emergency service admissions. Methods: One hundred and nineteen patients who had been admitted to the emergency ward of our hospital between July 2006 and April 2007 with febrile convulsions were evaluated in terms of age, gender, education level of the family, past or family history of febrile convulsions, time spent prior to admission, intervention by family members during the convulsion episode, treatment given in the hospital, duration of hospitalization, and infection foci. Results: All patients vuere aged between six months and five years with highest distribution around 13-24 months. Male/female ratio was 1.8/1 and 97% of all patients admitted within the first 24 hours. 63% of the mothers and 58% of the fathers were elementary school graduates. 39% of the patients had past histories of febrile convulsions. Rate of family history of febrile convulsion was 41% and epilepsy 8.4%o among all patients. Only peripheral cooling was applied to 43% of the patients whereas both peripheral cooling was applied and an antipyretic drug was given to 30% of all the patients. Febrile convulsions were of simple and complicated nature in 64% and 36% of the patients, respectiuely. infection focus was found as upper respiratory tract in 96, and lower respiratory tract in 12 patients. 24 (20.2%) patients with complicated febrile convulsion were given antiepileptic drug treatment. Conctusion: Febrile convulsion is mostly seen between the ages of 13-24 months in children with male preponderence. Upper respiratory tract infection is found to be the most frequent etiologic factor. was most common in boys at an average of 19 months of age; it was generally associated with upper respiratory tract infeetions. A family history of febrile convulsion was usually positiue especially in complicated febrile convulsion; and that EEG abnormalities were observed more commonly in patients with complicated febrile convulsion. A small portion (20.2%o) of all patients reguired antiepileptic medication. All of these were those with complicated disease or have had a high risk of recurrence rate.