Incidence of febrile seizures in Finland: prospective population-based study.

The objective was to study the incidence of febrile seizures prospectively determined through age 4 years. A standardized randomized cluster sample of nulliparous pregnant women from a geographically defined area were prospectively followed from the beginning of pregnancy through the child's age 4. Data on children eligible for the study (n = 1287), including febrile seizures, sociodemographic data, developmental milestones, and chronic diseases, were prospectively collected from families and health care staff. Data were available for 1033 children. Through age 4, the average annual incidence of febrile seizures was 14 per 1000 person-years (15 for girls and 13.5 for boys). The incidence rate through age 4 was 6.9% (7.3% for girls and 6.5% for boys). The incidence rate of febrile seizures in Finnish children is comparable to that reported previously. The higher figure, based on prospective rather than retrospective data, may give a more accurate picture of the clinical importance of febrile seizures.