Febrile convulsions are the most common childhood seizure disorder, affecting 2-5% of children by age five, about 100,000 new cases per year. Many receive expensive and invasive diagnosis workups. A large proportion are also placed on anticonvulsant medication. Approximately 30% of those who experience a febrile convulsion will have one or more recurrences. Most studies have focused on the long-term consequences of febrile convulsions; however, very little is known about the immediate illnesses associated with febrile convulsions or other antecedents of febrile convulsions. In addition, few risk factors for recurrent febrile convulsions have been identified. The primary aims of the proposed study are to identify (1) immediate precipitants of febrile convulsions. (2) antecedent risk factors for febrile convulsions, and (3) risk factors for recurrent febrile convulsions. Where possible, the study will also examine: (4) correlates of known risk factors for subsequent epilepsy in an effort to help clarify the association between febrile convulsions and epilepsy, (5) an explanation for the excess sale risk among children with first febrile convulsions, and (6) characteristics of the convulsion and of the child's condition indicative of intracranial infections. The proposal is for a case-control study of first febrile convulsions and a one-year follow-up of cases for recurrent febrile convulsions. Cases and controls will be identified over a three- year period from among children seeking care at three Bronx hospitals. Information will be obtained through medical record review and interviews with the children's parents. The information obtained will (1) identify immediate precipitants of febrile convulsions as well as antecedent risk factors thus furthering our understanding of this very common childhood disorder, (2) identify some potentially preventable factors associated with febrile convulsions, and (3) identify predictors of recurrent febrile convulsions allowing better targeting of anticonvulsant prophylaxis. Results from this study also may help clarify the consistent associations between febrile convulsions and later epilepsy and indirectly provide some insights into the etiology of epilepsy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29NS027728-02
Application #
3477842
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Project Start
1988-12-02
Project End
1993-11-30
Budget Start
1989-12-01
Budget End
1990-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Shinnar, S; Pellock, J M; Berg, A T et al. (2001) Short-term outcomes of children with febrile status epilepticus. Epilepsia 42:47-53
Berg, A T; Darefsky, A S; Holford, T R et al. (1998) Seizures with fever after unprovoked seizures: an analysis in children followed from the time of a first febrile seizure. Epilepsia 39:77-80
Berg, A T; Shinnar, S; Darefsky, A S et al. (1997) Predictors of recurrent febrile seizures. A prospective cohort study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 151:371-8
Berg, A T; Shinnar, S (1996) Unprovoked seizures in children with febrile seizures: short-term outcome. Neurology 47:562-8
Berg, A T; Shinnar, S (1996) Complex febrile seizures. Epilepsia 37:126-33
Berg, A T; Shinnar, S; Shapiro, E D et al. (1995) Risk factors for a first febrile seizure: a matched case-control study. Epilepsia 36:334-41
Shinnar, S; Berg, A T; Moshe, S L et al. (1994) Discontinuing antiepileptic drugs in children with epilepsy: a prospective study. Ann Neurol 35:534-45
Berg, A T; Shinnar, S (1994) Relapse following discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs: a meta-analysis. Neurology 44:601-8
Shinnar, S; Kang, H; Berg, A T et al. (1994) EEG abnormalities in children with a first unprovoked seizure. Epilepsia 35:471-6
Berg, A T (1993) Are febrile seizures provoked by a rapid rise in temperature? Am J Dis Child 147:1101-3

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