title: Febrile seizures in one-five aged infants in tropical practice: Frequency, etiology and outcome of hospitalization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Convulsive seizures are the common neurological emergencies in developing regions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the prevalence, causes and outcome of seizures in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were children aged 1-5 years old, admitted consecutively with a history of febrile convulsions or were presented seizures with fever during hospitalization, in two pediatric university hospitals. The prospective study covered a period from January to December 2013. At admission, emergency care and resuscitation procedures were provided according to the national guidelines. The history included the number and a parental description of seizures. Children with epilepsy, any central nervous system infections and other disease were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have recorded 3647 children. Among them, 308 (8.4%) infants had presented with febrile seizures including 174 males and 134 females admitted to both pediatric hospitals (Tokoin University Teaching Hospitals: 206/3070, Campus University Teaching Hospitals: 102/577). Infants from 1 to 3 years age were the most common affected and constituted 65.9% of all patients. The months of September, December and January had recorded the high frequency of admission due to seizures. Regarding the seizures type, generalized tonic-clonic seizures were predominant (46.4%) followed by tonic seizures (17.2%) and status epilepticus in 9%. The etiologies were marked by falciparum malaria (52.3%), and other infections in 47.7%. At discharge, we have noted 11% (34/308) with neurodevelopmental disabilities, 6.7% of epilepsy and 9.7% (30/308) of death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The febrile seizure in child younger 5 years is an indicator of severe malaria in tropical nations. The campaign for "roll back malaria" must continue in developing countries to avoid long-term gross neurological deficits.
authors: Neurology Service, Campus University Teaching Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
authors: Komi
authors: K
authors: Assogba
authors: Department of Pediatric, Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
authors: Bahoura
authors: B
authors: Balaka
authors: Department of Pediatric, Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
authors: Fidato A
authors: FA
authors: Touglo
authors: Neurology Service, Campus University Teaching Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
authors: Kossivi M
authors: KM
authors: Apetsè
authors: Neurology Service, Campus University Teaching Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
authors: Damelan
authors: D
authors: Kombaté
keywords: Childhood; etiologies; febrile seizures; prevalence