Neurodevelopmental problems in children with febrile seizures followed to young school age: A prospective longitudinal community-based study in Sweden

Abstract

Aim: To estimate the accumulated prevalence of neurodevelopmental problems from preschool to school age in children with a history of febrile seizures (FS). Methods: In a community-based cohort of children with previous FS, 25/73 clinically assessed children met diagnostic criteria for neurodevelopmental disorders or had major indications of such problems at the age of 4–5 years. Parents of 54 of the 73 children accepted to take part in an interview according to the Autism-Tics, ADHD and other Comorbidities (A-TAC) inventory, when the children were 9–10 years. Results: There was a trend for ADHD symptom scores to be higher in the FS group. Non-participants at age 9–10 years had had much higher rates of neurodevelopmental problems at 4–5 years, and the total number of such problems at either 4–5 or age 9–10 was 41% (30/73). Conclusion: High rates of neurodevelopmental problems (41%) were found at either age 4–5 or 9–10 years or both in this group of 73 children with FS. Non-participants at 9–10 years had had much higher rates of neurodevelopmental problems at 4–5 years. Further follow-up of this cohort is needed before definite conclusions can be drawn about whether FS should be considered a marker for more complex neurodevelopmental problems.