Certain factors can help identify a child with a history of febrile seizures who is at risk for development of epilepsy. A child at increased risk might be monitored more closely.
Risk factors for development of epilepsy following a febrile seizure:
(1) a developmental or neurological abnormality prior to the febrile seizure
(2) initial febrile seizures with one or more complex features
Criteria for a complex febrile seizure: one or more of the following:
(1) duration > 15 minutes
(2) multiple (repeated episodes) within a 24 hour period
(3) focal features (as opposed to a generalized seizure)
number of complex features
risk of unprovoked seizures
0
2.4%
1
6-8%
2
17-22%
3
49%
from Annegers et al (1987)
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