Clinical findings and seizure types in children with afebrile seizures: A retrospective tertiary centre large cohort study

Introduction: Afebrile seizures in children necessitate a complete evaluation, in terms of a thorough history, including semiology of seizure, a developmental history, and a complete general physical and neurological examination, for appropriate management.
Objectives: To study the clinical findings and seizure types in children aged 1 year to <18 years with afebrile seizures
Method: This is a single-centre retrospective study done over a 5-year period in a tertiary level care. Demographic details, documented seizure types and duration, presence of developmental delay, physical and neurological examination findings were collected and analysed.
Results: Among 777 children with afebrile seizures, 346 (44.5%) were aged 1 to 5 years, 67 (8.6%) had a family history of seizures and 205 (26.4%) had developmental delay. Of the 777, 508 (65.4%) children had generalised seizures; 300 (38.6%) had tonic clonic type, 181 (23.3%) had focal seizures, 42 (5.4%) had focal with secondary generalisation and 46 (5.9%) had polymorphic seizures; 289 (37.2%) children presented in status epilepticus; 101 (13%) children had microcephaly, 105 (13.5%) had neurocutaneous markers and 123 (15.8%) had dysmorphic facial features; 196 (25.2%) children had abnormal findings on neurological examination
Conclusions: In this study, 44.5% of childhood afebrile seizures occurred in the 1-5-year age group, 65.4% were generalised tonic clonic seizures, 37.2% presented with status epilepticus and 25.2% had abnormal findings on neurological examination.