Recurrence of febrile seizures in the respiratory season is associated with influenza A.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of viral infections and febrile seizures (FS).


METHODS
From April 1998 to April 2002, a prospective, population-based study was carried out among general practitioners to assess the incidence of FS in their practices. Data thus obtained were compared with the incidence of common viral infections recorded in a national registry. Poisson regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the season or the type of infection was associated with the variation observed in FS incidence.


RESULTS
Throughout the 4-year period, 267 of 303 (88%) of general practitioners in the Dutch province of Friesland participated in the study. The estimated observation period was approximately 160,000 patient-years. We registered 654 cases of FS in 429 children. The estimated incidence of FS was 2.4 in 1000 patient-years. Poisson regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between recurrent FS and influenza A ( P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests a relation between recurrent FS and influenza A. Influenza vaccination should be considered in all children with a history of FS.
van Zeijl
Jan H
JH
Department of Medical Microbiology, Public Health Laboratory Friesland, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. jan.van.zeijl@lvf.nl
Mullaart
Reinier A
RA
Borm
George F
GF
Galama
Jochem M D
JM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012621:Seasons; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution
D007252:Influenza Vaccines