Role of multiplex PCR analysis in children with febrile seizures.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess multiplex PCR analysis in detecting causative viruses in children with febrile seizures.


METHODS
The study was a retrospective analysis comparing data from a pre-multiplex era (2009) with a period after the introduction of routine respiratory multiplex analysis (2010-2013) in children with febrile seizures.


RESULTS
We included 200 children with febrile seizures (mean age: 29.5 ± 1.4.months; 104 male) in the study. In 2009, in 10 out of 49 (20 %) children, microbiology testing (bacterial/fungal) was positive compared with a rate of 74 out of 151 (49 %) children during 2010-2013 (p < 0.01). The rate of positive virological studies increased from 10 (20 %) in 2009 to 73 (48.3 %) in the period 2010-2013 (p < 0.01). Multiplex PCR analysis confirmed viral infections in 52 of 73 cases (71.2 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine multiplex PCR analysis fosters the detection of respiratory viruses in children with febrile seizure. The precise role of multiplex analysis in the management of these children awaits further clarification.
Medical School, University Hospital of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
Jelena
J
Naric
Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Rissland
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany.
Arne
A
Simon
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany.
Martin
M
Poryo
Medical School, University Hospital of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany.|Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Section Neuropediatrics, University Hospital of Saarland, Building 9, Kirrbergerstrasse, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
Ludwig
L
Gortner
Medical School, University Hospital of Saarland, 66421, Homburg, Germany. sascha.meyer@uks.eu.|Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Section Neuropediatrics, University Hospital of Saarland, Building 9, Kirrbergerstrasse, 66421, Homburg, Germany. sascha.meyer@uks.eu.
Sascha
S
Meyer
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
Children; Febrile seizures; Multiplex PCR analysis; Polymerase chain reaction; Respiratory infections