Frequency and risk factors of afebrile seizures after the first febrile seizure in children

Backgraound: Febrile seizure is the most common pediatric neurologic problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and related risk factors for subsequent afebrile seizures after the first febrile seizure in children. In a longitudinal study, all children aged 6 months to 6years with first febrile seizure admitted between March 2004 to August 2005 to Yazd Shaheed Sadoughi Hospital were followed up for at least 15 months for occurrence of afebrile seizures and related risk factors.. 139 children including 76 boys, (54.7%) and 63 girls, (45.3%) with mean age of 2.03 ± 1.21 year fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In 33% the first seizure had been a complex febrile seizure. After a mean seizure free duration of 7.8 ± 9.4 months, 6.5 percent experienced a subsequent afebrile seizure. Focal febrile seizure, neurodevelopmental delay, first febrile seizure occurring within 1 hour of fever commencement, and recurrent febrile seizures were risk factors of subsequent afebrile seizure after the first febrile seizure. In children with normal development, focal febrile seizures and seizure occurring soon after the beginning of fever were recognized as risk factors for subsequent afebrile seizure.