Serum sodium levels predict the recurrence of febrile seizure within 24 hours

Abstract

Objective: Febrile seizure is a common disorder in children that occurs in 2.5% of children 6-60 months of age. The study was conducted to ascertain the role of serum sodium as a predictor of seizure recurrence within the same febrile illness. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in children with febrile seizures who were admitted to Kaengkhro Hospital between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017. The data collected from medical records included age, gender, serum sodium level, body temperature, duration of fever, and family history of febrile seizures. Results: Two hundred ten children were diagnosed with febrile seizures; 190 had a single febrile seizure and 20 had recurrent febrile seizures. Mean±standard deviation ages of children with a single febrile seizure and recurrent febrile seizures were 22.95±0.95 and 22.34±0.89 months, respectively. Serum sodium levels in children with recurrent seizures within 24 hours (130.80 mmol/L) were significantly lower than in children with a single febrile seizure (132.37 mmol/L, p-value=0.02). A family history of febrile seizures was significant for predicting recurrent seizures within 24 hours (p−value= 0.006). Conclusion: Serum sodium levels predict the recurrence of febrile seizure within 24 hours.