Cerebrospinal Fluid Indices in Children with Febrile Convulsion

Background and Objective: Febrile convulsions (FC) are the most common seizure disorders in children. Lumbar puncture should be considered in any case with FC who is suspected to intracranial infections. This study determined white blood cell and polymorphonuclear cell counts, protein and glucose levels in cerebrospinal fluids (CFS) of children that were hospitalized with FC. Methods: In this cross sectional study, lumbar puncture samples of children with FC admitted to the Neurology ward of Ali-Asghar Children’s Hospital from 2010–2013 were evaluated. Recorded data included age, sex, type of seizure (simple, complex), frequent attack of FC, family history of FC or epilepsy and cerebrospinal indices (white blood cell, protein and glucose). Results: In this study, 91 CSF specimens of patients with FC were evaluated. Mean (SD) age of cases was 17.66±10.81 months. Fifty seven (62.6%) of cases were male. Mean glucose and protein levels of CSF was 62.57±12.30 and 21.34±9.52 milligram per deciliter, respectively. Median of WBC and PMN count of CSF were 1 and 0 cell/mm3, respectively. There was not significant relationship between patients' characteristics and CSF indices (P >0.05). Conclusion: During FCs, glucose and protein levels of CSF are in normal limits. Minimally changes may occur in CSF cell counts.