Çocuklarda febril konvülziyonların değerlendirilmesi

Objective and Aim: Febrile convulsions (FC) are a type of convulsions that are frequently seen; although having a goodprognosis, such convulsions can be worrying for the family. This study aims to examine the patients from an etiological aspect, to determine the risk factors for repeated febrile convulsions and to present some epidemiological and clinical characteristics of this condition. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 155 patients aged between 5 months and 8 years in age who are admitted to Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children s Training and Research Hospital between June 2009 and February 2010 with febrile convulsion. The patients were evaluated using detailed case histories, physical-neurological examinations and if necessary with blood tests, radiological examinations and lumbar punctures (LP). Results: In our study, in which the male/female ratio was 1.12/1, the most common cause ofFC was upper respiratory infection (80%). It was determined that %99 of the patients experienced a FC in the first 24 hours after the onset offever, %87 of the patients displayed a simple type FC, while %13 displayed a complicated type ofFC. We learned that %33 of the patients had previously experienced febrile convulsions, once or more times. %54 of the patients who had repeat FC histories experienced the convulsions between the ages of 0 and 12 months. %56 of the patients' families had FC histories. Of the 17 patients who underwent electroencephalography (EEG), pathological findings were discovered only in 1. Of the 35 patients, with mean age 28±9 months, to whom LP was performed, 4 were diagnosed as meningitis and were excluded from the study. Conclusions: In this study it was determined that the younger the child was when the first convulsion was experienced, the greater was the risk of repeat. Premature birth and/or history of newborn intensive care, or the existence of epilepsy in the family were identified as risk factors for repeated FC.