Incidence of Meningitis in Children Aged 6-18 Months with First Febrile Seizure and Good General Condition Referring to Imam Hossein and Amin Hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, from May 2016 to March 2017

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizure is the most common type of childhood seizures that occurs in about 3-5 percent of children between the ages of six months and six years. Cerebral infections should be assessed through clinical examinations or, if necessary, lumbar puncture. However, this question has always been raised whether all children with the first febrile convulsion under the age of 18 months must really have lumber puncture? This study aimed to assess the incidence of meningitis in children aged 6-18 months with first febrile seizure and good general condition. Methods: In this prospective study, the of incidence of meningitis in children aged 6-18 month with first febrile seizure and good general condition (without symptoms suggestive of meningitis or sepsis) was calculated among the patients hospitalized in Imam Hossein and Amin hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, from May 2016 to March 2017. All patients' data from clinical and paraclinical examinations were entered into prepared forms and analyzed via SPSS software. Findings: Among 170 studied patients, all of them had lumbar puncture, 128 cases (75.3%) presented with simple and 42 (24.7%) with complex febrile seizure. Meningitis (bacterial or aseptic) were identified in 2 cases (1.2%). None of them had bacterial meningitis. Conclusion: Groups of children aged 6-18 months with first febrile seizure and good general condition and without symptoms suggestive of meningitis or sepsis do not need lumbar puncture; and previous recommendations should be reviewed in all children under the age of 18 months with the first febrile convulsion.

Keywords

• Seizures
• Febrile
• Meningitis
• Bacterial
• Spinal puncture