All issues > Volume 40(2); 1997

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1997;40(2):225-232. Published online February 15, 1997.

A Study on thePredisposing Factors to Complex Febrile Convulsion

Ge Woo GW Yi¹, Dong Wook DW Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Chinju, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Febrile convulsion is classified as simple or complex type, the latter being characterized by frequent recurrence of febrile convulsion itself and progression to epilepsy. This study was performed to seek the predisposing factors to complex febrile convulsion.
Methods
: This study was retrospectively undertaken to review medicalrecords of 472 children under 15 years of age with febrile convulsions, who were diagnosed at Gyeongsang National University Hospital during 5 years from March 1990 to February 1995. We evaluated the clinical informations such as sex, age, cause of fever, past medical history, family history, and EEG finding, which were suspected to be predisposing to complex febrile convulsion. Statistical analyses were performed using x2-test.
Results
: There were 199 (42.16%) children with complex febrile convulsions and 273 (57.84%) with simple febrile convulsions. In children under 1 year of age complex febrile convulsion occurred more frequently in 64 of 113 (56.64%) than in children over 1 year of age in 137 of 359 (37.60%)(p<0.05). Upper respiratory tract infection was the most common cause of fever in our cases. In children with acute gastroenteritides complex febrile convulsion developed more frequently in 31 of 53 (58.49%) than in children with other causes of fever in 26 of 48 (54.17%) (p<0.05).In children who were born prematurely, showed developmental delays, or had previous brain injury histories, complex febrile convulsion occurred in 6 of 9 (66.67%), in 13 of 20 (65.00%), or in 4 of 5 (80.00%), respectively. There was no significant difference in the frequency of complex febrile convulsion according to sex, past medical history of delivery type or previous febrile convulsion, familial history of febrile or nonfebrile convulsion, and EEG finding.
Conclusion
: Complex febrile convulsion developed significantly more frequently in chidren whose age were under 1 year or who had acute acute gastroenteritides as the causes of their fever. Although complex febrile convulsion also occurred more frequently in children who were born prematurely, showed developmental delays, or had previous brain injury histories, its statistical significance could not be proven.

Keywords :Complex febrile convulsion, Predisposing factor