Electrocardiography Findings in Children with Febrile Convulsion

Abstract

Febrile convulsion (FC) is a seizure associated with body temperature that leads to electrocardiography changes. The study aimed to study electrocardiographic changes in children with FC as compared with healthy children. In this case–control study, 90 children aged 6 to 60 months were matched with equal healthy ones in “Ali Ebne Abi Talib” hospital in Zahedan, Iran. FC was confirmed by a neurologist based on its definition by the International League Against Epilepsy. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was captured by a pediatric cardiologist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19. Sex distribution in groups was similar (p = 0.232). QT correction (QTc) was normal in 97.8 and 76.7% of controls and FC children, respectively (p < 0.001). QT dispersion (QTd) was normal in all controls when it was prolonged in 0.6% of children (p< 0.316). Calculated QT (QTcd) prolonged in controls and FC of 4.4 and 27.8% of children, respectively (p < 0.001). RR interval (p = 0.001), heart rate (p< 0.001), S in V1 (p = 0.004), R in aVL (p = 0.007), S in V3(p< 0.001), left ventricular mass (LVM) (p< 0.001), QTd (p< 0.001), QTc max (p< 0.001), and QTcd (p< 0.001) were significant. Means of LVM were 46.00 ± 1.86, 47.22 ± 2.24, and 51.45 ± 2.41 for age groups of <12, 12–24, and >24 months, respectively (p < 0.001). We conclude that QTd, QTc, and QTcd were higher in FC compared with those of healthy children. The rate of FC in children with higher level of QTcd increased compared with controls.

ECG Changes in Children with Convulsions at Sohag University Hospital

“…The study results disagree with that of Noori et al (15) who performed a case-control study examined the electrocardiography (ECG) results of children diagnosed with epilepsy in comparison to a control group of healthy children. Ninety patients, ages six months to eighteen, who were matched with an equivalent number of healthy youngsters made up the research sample.…”

Electrocardiography Parameters Changes in Epilepsy and Febrile Convulsion Children Compared with Controls

“…Biet et al 18 observed a prolonged QT in epilepsy similar to a study by Kolsal et al 16 that found QTd prolonged in epilepsy compared with controls. Movahedian et al 19 and Noori et al 15 found that QT, QTc, QTd, and QTcd were higher in epilepsy patients than controls. El-Rashidy et al 20 concluded that the mean values of QTc and QTd were significantly higher in epilepsy patients.…”

“…In a previous study, we concluded that RR interval, HR, S wave in lead V 1 , R in aVL, LVM, QTd, QTc, and QTcd prolonged significantly in FC children compared with controls. 14 Kändler et al 23 found transient QTc prolongation occurred in 7 of 30 pediatric patients during a postconvulsive period of 2 hours following generalized seizures. The present study confirms that children with FC had longer QTd, QTc, and QTcd than the controls.…”

“…13 The children suspected to febrile convulsion was confirmed by the neurologist based on the definition of a convulsion which occurs with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher that is not the result of CNS infection or any metabolic imbalance and that occur in the absence of a history of prior a febrile seizure. 14 Sex-and age-matched healthy individuals collected randomly from those who were referred to the clinics with fever and without any underlying diseases and FC.…”