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 Printable version |
Febrile Seizures in the Tropics |
Epilepsies. Volume 22, Number 2, 103-9, avril-mai-juin 2010, Épilepsie et pathologies tropicales
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 Résumé
 Free Article
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Author(s) : Gretchen L Birbeck |
Summary : Febrile seizures are a common neurologic event among children worldwide, but are almost certainly more common in tropical regions. Acute febrile seizures in tropical, resource-poor settings may be complicated by delayed care as well as the administration of harmful traditional medicines. Parental education regarding the management of fevers and seizures in children is a critical component of febrile seizure care. A comprehensive understanding regarding the prognosis of febrile seizures, in terms of the risk of recurrent febrile seizures and/or the development of epilepsy, requires prospective, population-based epidemiologic data, but these are not available from most tropical regions. Extrapolations from data gathered in the US and UK is inappropriate, given the differences in fever etiology, febrile seizure semiology and the baseline prevalence of epilepsy risk factors. Further data are needed regarding the natural history of febrile seizures in the tropics including population-based prevalence rates and long-term outcomes. The role of malaria in causing febrile seizures vs. cerebral malaria deserves special investigations. |
Keywords : febrile seizures, epidemiology, clinical management, risk factors, etiology, malaria, traditional medicines, complex febrile seizures |
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