Characteristics of febrile seizure after the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of febrile seizures (FSs) before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global health emergency.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective study conducted at a single institution in Japan. Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 797 children with FS, aged <16 years, between January 2018 and July 2024. Participants were categorized into four terms: Term I, pre-COVID-19 period; Term II, pre-Omicron period; Term III, Omicron period; and Term IV, post-COVID-19 global health emergency. Late FS was defined as FS in children aged >60 months. Data were compared across these four periods and between COVID-19-related and non-COVID-19-related groups.

RESULTS

The monthly average of FSs was 14.4 in Term I, 7.7 in Term II, 11.6 in Term III, and 12.5 in Term IV. The median age in Term IV was 34 months, significantly older than in Terms I, II, and III. Late FS in the COVID-19-related group was 22.6 % in Term III and 25 % in Term IV. In the non-COVID-19-related group, late FS rates were 5.0 % in Term I, 2.7 % in Term II, 4.7 % in Term III, and 26.0 % in Term IV, significantly higher than in Terms I, II, and III.

CONCLUSIONS

After the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency, the rate of late FS caused by COVID-19 remained high, and the rate of late FS caused by non-COVID-19 infections also increased compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.