INTRODUCTION: Febrile seizures (FS) occur in about 2-5% of the children from the age of 6 months do 5 years of age. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze clinical and EEG aspects of children with febrile seizures. Methods: We retrospectively studied 1162 children (age range: 4 months to 5 years) with FS. The relationship between clinical and EEG abnormalities was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the majority of cases there were simple febrile seizures (82%) and unique seizures (62%). The recurrence rate of FS was higher for children with the first seizure bellow 12 months of age, and when the FS were complicated. Ninety-five (8.1%) children showed focal epileptiform activity (EA) in the first EEG, and 3.4% had somatosensory evoked spikes by foot or hand stimulation. There was a increase in percentage of EA with the increase of age (3% until 12 months and 33% after 48 moths). Afebrile seizures subsequent to the FS occurred in 9,4% of the cases. EA, a family history of seizures, and the type of FS were not significant risk factors for subsequent afebrile seizures. DISCUSSION: In order to understand the relationship between FS and the occurrence of epilepsy, and to evaluate possible cognitive and behaviour problems associated to the persistent epileptiform activity there is a need of longitudinal studies.
electroencephalogram; febrile seizures; epileptiform activity
