Objective: The clinical characteristics and out-come offebrile convulsions in children admitted to the University Hospital in Kubang Kerian were analysed in this retrospective study.
Method: The medical records of 244 children aged between 6 months to 5 years who presented with their first convulsions between January 1989 to December 1990 were reviewed. Patients were followed till one year after their first febrile convulsions.
Results: The mean age of presentation was 18.26 (s.d. 11.83) months. One hundred and thirty (54.5%) were males. Complex febrile convulsions were noted in 47.5% and simple febrile convulsions in 52.5%. Seventy-two children (29.5%) were less than one year old at the time offirst febrile convulsions. A family history offebrile convulsions was significantly higher in the complexfebrile convulsions group. Ten children (4.1%) presented with prolonged first febrile convulsions. Data on 117 children on follow-up were available for analysis. Recurrence of febrile convulsions occurred in fifty children (46.7%) with mean interval of 6.53 (s.d. 5.25) months. There was significant difference in children who presented with febrile convulsions at age of less than one year old and having family history offebrile convulsions with regard to recurrence. Three children developed epilepsy at a mean age of 31.56 months. Identifiable causes of febrile convulsions were upper respiratory infection, presumed viral infection (fever with rashes) and acute gastro-enteritis. Laboratory investiga-tions that were done were not helpful.
Conclusions: Children with a family history of febrile convulsions were more likely to develop complex febrile convulsions. Routine investi-gations were rarely helpful. The recurrence rate is significantly influenced by the age of presentation and family history of febrile convulsions in siblings or either parent. The types offebrile convulsions did not significantly influence the recurrent rate.