Frequency of Meningitis in Children Presenting with Febrile Seizures at Ali-Asghar Children’s Hospital

OBJECTIVE Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common type of childhood seizures, affecting 2-5% of children. As the seizure may be the sole presentation of bacterial meningitis in febrile infants, it is mandatory to exclude underlying meningitis in children presenting with fever and seizure. To determine the frequency of meningitis in children with FS and related risk factors, the present study was conducted at Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital. MATERIALS & METHODS The records of children aged from 1-month-6 years of age with fever and seizure admitted to the hospital from October 2000-2010 were studied. The charts of patients who had undergone a lumbar puncture were studied and cases of meningitis were selected. The related data was collected and analyzed with SPSS version 16. RESULTS A total of 681 patients with FS were known from which 422 (62%) lumbar punctures (LP) were done. Meningitis (bacterial or aseptic) was identified in 19 cases (4.5%, 95% CI 2.9-6.9 by Wilson- Score internal) and bacterial meningitis in 7 (1.65%, 95% CI 0.8-3.3). None of the patients with bacterial meningitis had meningeal irritation signs. Complex FS, first attack of FS, and impaired consciousness were more common in patients with meningitis when compared to non- meningitis patients. CONCLUSION Meningitis is more common in patients less than 18 months presenting with FS; however, complex features of seizures, first attack of FS, or impaired consciousness seem significant risk factors for meningitis in these children and an LP should be considered in this situation.