title: Viruses and febrile convulsions.
abstract: In 276 children admitted to hospital with febrile convulsions a wide range of virus types was identified by means of nasopharyngeal secretions and cough/nasal swabs. The overall virus identification rate was 49%. Analysis of age, sex, family history, and past history showed no marked differences between the virus-positive and the virus-negative children. More than 80% had symptoms of respiratory infection in association with their convulsions, whether or not a virus was identified. Convulsions were not apparently more severe in the virus-positive group. Rapid virus diagnosis was found helpful in the management of children with febrile convulsions. The virus aetiology of many febrile convulsions has implications both for hospital cross-infection and for research into methods of prevention.
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications*; D012621:Seasons; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000209:etiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications*