Publication:

Clinical profile and laboratory parameters of febrile seizures: a hospital based cross-sectional study in sub-Himalayan region

Background Febrile seizures occur commonly in the age group of 6 to 60 months, clinical spectrum is variable and range from single, brief episode to status epilepticus which can further progress to long term consequences. There is very limited data available from sub-Himalayan belt of northern India, hence the present study was planned to know the clinical spectrum, pattern of lab parameters and their association as a risk factor for occurrence of seizures.

Methods A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of paediatrics of Indira Gandhi Medical college, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. All children between 6 to 60 months admitted in our institute during the study period of July 2021 to June 2022 with diagnosis of febrile seizure were considered for the study.

Results A total of 120 children were included in the present study with a mean age of 26.6±14.2 months. Majority of the study subjects were from rural area (74.2%) and male had slightly higher representation (55.8%). Generalised tonic-clonic seizure (78.3%) was the most common phenotypic presentation, cases with SFS constituted 61.7% and CFS was observed in 38.3% of study subjects. Raised ESR values, elevated CRP values and leucocytosis had significant association in occurrence of CFS.

Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the different phenotypic presentations and characteristics of febrile seizures in the study population. The study further identifies a statistically significant association between certain inflammatory markers and CFS.