A study on febrile convulsions with special reference to incidence of bacteremia

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures is considered a "syndrome" because it fulfils several characteristics that are similar among affected children. Febrile Seizure generally occurs within a restricted age range. The majority of children with Febrile Seizure show normal neurological and structural development after the episode. Objectives: To evaluate risk of bacteraemia and other factors for febrile seizures. Methods: The present study conducted in Department of Paediatrics at Kakatiya Medical College/Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital-Warangal, January 2019 to December 2020, 50 children in the age group of 06 months to 5 years with febrile seizures were studied. It is a prospective observational study so no potential risk is involved in this study. Results: In this study of the 50 cases, 46 cases did not yield any growth on blood culture. Of the 04 cases with bacteremia, only 03 cases had significant bacteremia which had 02 Streptococcus pneumonia as the infecting organism and 01 H. Influenza. The other 01 case grows coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus as the organism which was a contaminant. Conclusion: Even though viruses form major etiological agents for febrile convulsions, occult bacteraemia should be ruled out in all children presenting with febrile convulsions. Children with a positive family history of afebrile convulsion should be followed up and evaluated closely as they can develop epilepsy at a later date.