Recurrent rates and risk factors of febrile seizures in the subsequent illness following the first febrile seizures in Thai children

Abstract

Objective: To determine risk and risk factors of recurrent febrile seizures after first febrile seizures. Materials and Methods: This was an observational prospective cohort study on children 6 months to 5 years of age who presented with the first febrile seizures between January 2007 to June 2013. The data was collected from medical records and interviews with parents. Results: 357 children were enrolled with the first febrile seizures with a mean (SD) age of 20.9 (12.4) months. 19.3% of these had recurrent febrile seizures and a cumulative risk of recurrence was 13%, 19% and 19.3% at 12, 24 and 50 months after first febrile seizures, respectively. By multivariate analysis, family history of febrile seizures was the significant risk factor for recurrence of febrile seizures (p<0.05). Age, gender, duration of fever before seizures, the temperature at initial seizures, complex febrile seizures, type of seizures and family history of epilepsy were not associated with risk of recurrent febrile seizures. Conclusion: The recurrent febrile seizures was more frequent at 12 to 24 months after the first febrile seizures and the positive family history of febrile seizure was increasing risk of recurrent febrile seizures in subsequent illness. © JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND| 2019.