Comparison of laboratory parameters in children admitted with febrile seizures and fever without localized sign in Urmia Motahari hospital, Iran, 2015 until 2020

Background. Febrile seizures are the most common childhood seizure disorder, occurring in 3 to 15% of children. The present study investigated the laboratory parameters in children admitted with febrile seizure and those with fever without localized sign (FWLS) in Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia.

Methods. Demographic and clinical data of all patients admitted to the pediatric ward of Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia from 2015 to 2020 with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS) were collected. Levels of BUN, creatinine, blood sugar, sodium, potassium , calcium , C reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, hematocrit, platelets, ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate ) and UA (urine analysis) and UC(urine cuiture), test results were also extracted from patients' file. Finally, the data extracted were compared between patients with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS) cohort.

Results. In this study, a total of 425 people were included, of which 185 were in the Febrile seizures group (case) and 240 were in the fever without localized sign (FWLS) (control) cohort, with 220 (51.8%) being male and 205 (48.2%) female. The mean age for all subjects was 20.62 ±4.84 months. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean levels of BUN (P=0.041), creatinine (P=0.006), ESR (P<0.001) and CRP (P<0.001); The mean levels of BUN and creatinine in patients with febrile seizures were significantly higher than patients with fever without localized sign (FWLS) and the mean ESR and CRP in patients with fever without localized sign (FWLS) were significantly higher than patients with febrile seizures.

Conclusion. There is a significant difference in BUN, creatinine, ESR and CRP levels between patients with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS), which can be used to predict the course of fever in children.

Practical Implications. None of the laboratory parameters predict the onset of fever and seizures following a simple fever.