OBJECTIVE: Febrile seizures may contribute to epilepsy later in life, but data in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We, therefore, conducted a hospital-based study on clinical characteristics of children with febrile seizures. METHODS: Over 2 years, we screened all pediatric admissions of Haydom Lutheran Hospital, northern Tanzania, and recruited 197 children with febrile seizures. RESULTS: The incidence of febrile seizures was 4% of all admitted children aged <10 years, with a mortality of almost 4%. The peak age at the first febrile seizure was 2 years. One of five children experienced repeated episodes, and the majority of children showed features of complex seizures. Approximately 20% of children had a positive family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Febrile seizures represent a frequent cause for admission of children, bearing a rather high mortality. Most children exhibit complex febrile seizures, which may contribute to the development of epilepsy later in life.
OBJECTIVE:Febrile seizures may contribute to epilepsy later in life, but data in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We, therefore, conducted a hospital-based study on clinical characteristics of children with febrile seizures. METHODS: Over 2 years, we screened all pediatric admissions of Haydom Lutheran Hospital, northern Tanzania, and recruited 197 children with febrile seizures. RESULTS: The incidence of febrile seizures was 4% of all admitted children aged <10 years, with a mortality of almost 4%. The peak age at the first febrile seizure was 2 years. One of five children experienced repeated episodes, and the majority of children showed features of complex seizures. Approximately 20% of children had a positive family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy. CONCLUSION:Febrile seizures represent a frequent cause for admission of children, bearing a rather high mortality. Most children exhibit complex febrile seizures, which may contribute to the development of epilepsy later in life.