Clinical Presentation of Febrile Convulsions in Benin City

Abstract

Febrile convulsions are caused by fever due to infection soccuring outside the Central Nervous System and are recognised as major contributors to morbidity and mortality in children 6months to 60 months of age in developing countries. This study is designed to determine its prevalence in children, with a view to documenting its key clinicall features at presentation. Records at Modic Medical Centre show 2291 children were hospitalized between January 1^st and Decemeber 31^st 2009. Over this period 159(5.4%) children were treated for febrile convulsions. Although febrile convulsion is common in children less than 60 months of age, it is more frequent in those less than 24 months of age accounting for 64(40.3%) with overall male to female ratio of 1.6:1. First episodes of febrile convulsions were recorded in 73% of children, while a strong family history was noted in 35%. Its commonest mode presentation was simple febrile seizures (46.5%), followed by complex febrile (32.1%) and prolonged seizures (21.4%). In addition, the use of unorthodox interventions before hospital attendance was found to be common. This study therefore concludes that febrile convulsion is a common childhood disorder in Benin City and eviron with a prevalence rate of 5.4%. It is that recognising its associated risk factors will lead to appropriate interventions and decrease in its prevalence in Benin City and environs. It is reccommended that unorthodox pre-hospital practices should be stopped completely to avoid its complications and adverse outcome.

Keywords: Fever, children, Benin City