The frequency of EEG abnormalities in children with febrile seizure

Background and Objective: Febrile seizures are one of the most common neurological disorders in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of abnormal EEG reports and their association with other risk factors of febrile seizures. Material &Method: In this prospective observational study, all patients with febrile seizure admitted in Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran, from April ۲۰۱۵ to March ۲۰۱۶ were enrolled. EEG was done in all patients and the clinical data were recorded in prepared questionnaire .The statistical analysis was performed by using the software spss.۱۶. Results:  One hundred seventy patients, ۹۲ (۵۴.۱%) male and ۷۸ (۴۵.۹%) female with the mean age of ۲۸.۵۷ months were evaluated. The EEG reports were normal in۱۴۰ (۸۲.۴%) cases and ۳۰ (۱۷.۶%) cases had abnormal reports including ۸ cases(۲۶.۶%) of spike & sharp electric discharge, ۲ cases (۶.۶%)of slow activity and ۲۰ cases(۶۶.۶%) of nonspecific changes. EEG abnormalities were significantly related with male sex (P = ۰.۰۲۰), history of previous febrile convulsion (p< ۰.۰۰۱), positive family history of epilepsy and febrile seizures (p< ۰.۰۰۱) and complex type of febrile convulsion (p< ۰.۰۰۱). Longer duration of seizure (p< ۰.۰۰۱) and older age of patients (p< ۰.۰۳۳) had significant relation with abnormal EEG. Conclusion: Although EEG is not routinely performed in all patients with febrile seizure, it is recommended in male gender, age over ۳ years, complex febrile seizure, previous history of seizure and family history of epilepsy or febrile seizures.

Keywords:

Electroencephalography (EEG) , Simple febrile convulsion , Complex Febrile seizure , Febrile convulsion (FC).