title: Demographic characteristics and risk factors of first febrile seizures: a Jordanian experience.
abstract: A prospective study of 203 children admitted with a first febrile seizure was carried out over 18 months. Aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in nine children (4%). The mean age of the children was 19.9 months and the peak age incidence (88%) was between 6 months and 3 years. Complex seizures were seen in 16 cases (8%). There was a history of perinatal asphyxia in 16 patients (8%), positive family history of epilepsy in 3%, of first degree relatives and a history of febrile seizures in siblings in 13%. Upper respiratory tract infection was the commonest triggering factor, diagnosed in 53% of cases. The third child was the most commonly affected (22%) in the family. There was a lower incidence of both complex febrile seizures and history of seizures in siblings compared to other studies. Lumbar puncture should be considered for all children below the age of 2 years, presenting with a first febrile seizure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University and Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abuekteish
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al-Sheyyab
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nou'man
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*