A Correlation Analysis between Febrile Seizures and Viral Infections

Lee, Soo Jin; Kim, Ji Myung; Park, Ho Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE
Viral infections are common in children,. This study was aimed to identify the correlation between febrile seizures and virus infections, to reduce the use of antibiotics and to help the normal development.
METHODS
We studied 114 children with the chief complaint of febrile seizures who visited Eulji Medical University Hospital for from September, 2009 to August, 2010. Data included clinical findings, signs, routine laboratory testing and chest x-ray. Viral and bacterial studies, neuroimagings, electroencephalograms and cerebrospinal fluid studies were performed if clinically indicated.
RESULTS
A total of 114 patients were enrolled in the study. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. The mean age was 27.1 months and incidence was high in patients from 18 to 24 months of age. Generalized seizure was 97.4% and partial seizure was 2.6% in seizure type. Seizures lasted from 1 to less than 5 min in 81 patients (71.1%); within 1 min in 19 (16.7%); from 5 to less than 15 min in 11 (9.6%); and 15 min or more in 3 (2.6%). The etiologies of fever were listed as follows; unknown in 41 patients (36.0%), URI in 27 (23.7%), gastroenteritis in 16 (14.0%), bronchiolitis in 15 (13.2%), pneumonia in 10 (8.9%), croup in 4 (3.5%) and UTI in 1 (0.1%). Among 74 patients in which viral studies performed, 36 patients were positive ; RSV (7), Rhinovirus (6), Parainfluenza virus (4), Adenovirus (3), Influenza A virus (2), Influenza B virus (1), Coronavirus (2), Metapneumovirus (1), Rotavirus (6) and Enterovirus (4). Bacterial cultures were negative in 98.2% but antibiotics were prescribed in 74.5%. Abnormal findings in electroencephalograms were 2.
CONCLUSION
The main cause of infection in children with febrile seizure was viral. Therefore a rapid viral testing would lead to an early diagnosis, less invasive investigations and a reduction in empiric antibacterial treatment.