[Should a more interventionist approach be taken in A and E departments with atypical febrile seizures? Three years' experience in a tertiary hospital].

INTRODUCTION

Atypical febrile seizures (AFS) have been related with a higher incidence of severe pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies show a reduction in the prevalence of some of these diseases, a fact that could affect their management. AIMS. To determine the prevalence of severe pathologies of the CNS in patients treated for AFS in A and E departments and to detect any differences between these and patients suffering from AFS that is not associated to any severe pathology.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of patients diagnosed with AFS between November 2008 and November 2011.

RESULTS

Altogether, the sample consisted of 231 episodes of AFS (223 patients), with an average age of 1.7 years (p25-75=1.2-2.3 years), 133 (57.6%) of whom were males. Twelve patients (5.2%; 95% CI=2.7-8.9) were diagnosed with a severe pathology of the CNS. In patients with a severe pathology of the CNS, AFS is on most occasions the first episode (91.7% versus 63%; p=0.036) and more than one diagnostic criterion is present (50% versus 15.1%; p=0.007). Moreover, focal seizures (50% versus 12.8%; p=0.003) or epileptic status (25% versus 5.9%; p=0.041) are more common, and patients present altered levels of awareness that persist after the episode (66.7% versus 31.5%; p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the fact that the prevalence of severe pathology of the CNS in patients with AFS is low, carrying out complementary tests or admission to hospital on a routine basis are not recommended. Certain characteristics of the episode increase the likelihood of AFS being the manifestation of a severe pathology of the CNS (being a first episode, presenting more than one diagnostic criterion for AFS and being a focal seizure or epileptic status), and should therefore be taken into account in the management of the patient.