Febrile Seizures Follow-up

  • Author: Robert J Baumann, MD; Chief Editor: Amy Kao, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 8, 2010
 

Prognosis

Prognosis for normal neurologic function is excellent.

  • About one third of children who experience a single simple febrile seizure will have another.
  • The lifetime rate of epilepsy in these children is slightly above that of the general population.[4]

A Danish population-based study by Norgaard et al found little association between febrile seizures and cognitive function. Data linked from health-care databases and conscript records of Danish men born from 1977-1983 showed that, of the 18,276 eligible conscripts, 507 (2.8%) had a record of hospitalization with febrile seizures and no known history of epilepsy. Compared with conscripts with no record of febrile seizures, the adjusted prevalence ratio for having a Boerge Prien intelligence test score in the bottom quartile was 1.08 (95% confidence index [CI], 0.94-1.25). The adjusted prevalence ratios were 1.38 (95% CI, 1.07-1.79) for febrile seizures with an onset age of 3 months to < 1 year, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.80-1.18) for febrile seizures with an onset age of 1-2 years, and 1.14 (95% CI, 0.79-1.66) for an onset age of 3-5 years.[5]

Next

Patient Education

Previous
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert J Baumann, MD  Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Robert J Baumann, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James J Riviello Jr, MD  George Peterkin Endowed Chair in Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Professor of Neurology, Peter Kellaway Section of Neurophysiology, Baylor College of Medicine; Chief of Neurophysiology, Director of the Epilepsy and Neurophysiology Program, Texas Children's Hospital

James J Riviello Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Up To Date Royalty Section Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD  Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Mayo Clinic

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

Chief Editor

Amy Kao, MD  Attending Neurologist, Children's National Medical Center

Amy Kao, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Winawer M, Hesdorffer D. Turning on the heat: the search for febrile seizure genes. Neurology. Nov 23 2004;63(10):1770-1. [Medline].

  2. Vestergaard M, Pedersen MG, Ostergaard JR, Pedersen CB, Olsen J, Christensen J. Death in children with febrile seizures: a population-based cohort study. Lancet. Aug 9 2008;372(9637):457-63. [Medline].

  3. Rosman NP, Colton T, Labazzo J, et al. A controlled trial of diazepam administered during febrile illnesses to prevent recurrence of febrile seizures. N Engl J Med. Jul 8 1993;329(2):79-84. [Medline].

  4. Verity CM, Golding J. Risk of epilepsy after febrile convulsions: a national cohort study. BMJ. Nov 30 1991;303(6814):1373-6. [Medline].

  5. [Best Evidence] Nørgaard M, Ehrenstein V, Mahon BE, Nielsen GL, Rothman KJ, Sørensen HT. Febrile seizures and cognitive function in young adult life: a prevalence study in Danish conscripts. J Pediatr. Sep 2009;155(3):404-9. [Medline].

  6. Baumann RJ. Technical report: treatment of the child with simple febrile seizures. Pediatrics. Jun 1999;103(6):e86. [Medline].

  7. [Guideline] Febrile seizures: clinical practice guideline for the long-term management of the child with simple febrile seizures. Pediatrics. Jun 2008;121(6):1281-6. [Medline].

  8. [Guideline] Practice parameter: the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a first simple febrile seizure. American Academy of Pediatrics. Provisional Committee on Quality Improvement, Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures. Pediatrics. May 1996;97(5):769-72; discussion 773-5. [Medline].

  9. [Guideline] Riemenschneider TA, Baumann RJ, Duffner PK, et al. Practice parameter: the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a first simple febrile seizure. American Academy of Pediatrics. Provisional Committee on Quality Improvement, Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures. Pediatrics. May 1996;97(5):769-72; discussion 773-5. [Medline].

  10. Thoman JE, Duffner PK, Shucard JL. Do serum sodium levels predict febrile seizure recurrence within 24 hours?. Pediatr Neurol. Nov 2004;31(5):342-4. [Medline].

Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.