October 10, 2019

National Cohort Study in Denmark Finds Recurrent Febrile Seizures Associated with Risk of Developing Epilepsy and Psychiatric Disorders

Question: Are long-term consequences associated with recurrent febrile seizures?

Findings: In this cohort study of 2,103,232 children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years born in Denmark, recurrent febrile seizures were assessed. The cumulative risk of recurrent febrile seizures in 75,593 children with a first febrile seizure was 22.7%. The risk of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders increased with the number of hospital admissions with febrile seizures.

Meaning: Recurrent febrile seizures appear to be associated with a risk of developing epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, but excessive mortality was observed only in those who later developed epilepsy.

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