Spontaneous fits after convulsions with fever.

112 of an original sample of 134 children with febrile convulsions were reviewed between 8 years and 9 years 10 months after their initial attack. 17% of those followed up had had at least one spontaneous fit. A significant correlation was found with perinatal abnormalities. 12% had continuing recurrent fits. Persisting grand mal occurred most commonly in lower social class children who had had perinatal abnormalities and continued to have long-term neurological disorders. Psychomotor epilepsy correlated significantly with a prolonged or repeated initial convulsion with unilateral features. It is suggested that the development of grand mal and temporal lobe epilepsies after convulsions with fever are determined by different mechanisms.