Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period

Introduction: Febrile seizures (FS) are common childhood seizures often triggered by fever. With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), FS cases related to the COVID-19 have also been reported. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 preventive measures on frequency with FS...

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Main Authors: Nazlı Sivil, Furkan Donbaloğlu, Özlem Tolu Kendir, Nilgün Erkek, Özgür Duman, Şenay Haspolat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Publishing House 2024-08-01
Series:Güncel Pediatri
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Online Access:https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/have-pandemic-measures-reduced-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-assessment-of-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-in-the-pre-and-post-covid-19-period/doi/jcp.2024.82687
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author Nazlı Sivil
Furkan Donbaloğlu
Özlem Tolu Kendir
Nilgün Erkek
Özgür Duman
Şenay Haspolat
author_facet Nazlı Sivil
Furkan Donbaloğlu
Özlem Tolu Kendir
Nilgün Erkek
Özgür Duman
Şenay Haspolat
author_sort Nazlı Sivil
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Febrile seizures (FS) are common childhood seizures often triggered by fever. With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), FS cases related to the COVID-19 have also been reported. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 preventive measures on frequency with FS to the pediatric emergency department and compare characteristics of FS patients between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted using data from the our hospital’s pediatric emergency service between March 11th, 2018, and March 10th, 2022. Patients aged between 6 to 60 months with FS were included in to the study. Results: A total of 385 FS admissions from 342 patients were evaluated. During the pandemic period, total paediatric emergency admissions decreased by 38.3%, while admissions related to FS decreased by 51.4%. The ratio of FS-related admissions to total admissions decreased from 0.30% to 0.23% (p=0.025). The distribution of FS type differed significantly between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods (p=0.006), and the proportion of complicated FS cases was higher during the pandemic. Conclusions: This study revealed a decline in FS admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely due to quarantine measures that reduced the transmission of respiratory infections. Notably, the rate of admission of complex FS cases and hospitalizations increased during the pandemic. Adherence to isolation and hygiene practices might contribute to reducing FS incidence in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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spelling doaj-art-978e2bfec5ec4737b8598fa4049b5af12025-08-20T01:59:05ZengGalenos Publishing HouseGüncel Pediatri1304-90541308-63082024-08-0122210210710.4274/jcp.2024.82687Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 PeriodNazlı Sivil0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4841-9295Furkan Donbaloğlu1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3252-9342Özlem Tolu Kendir2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7580-405XNilgün Erkek3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0271-232XÖzgür Duman4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3313-8052Şenay Haspolat5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3596-1816Akdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Child Neurology, Antalya, TurkeyAkdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Child Health and Diseases, Antalya, TurkeyAkdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Pediatric Emergency, Antalya, TurkeyAkdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Pediatric Emergency, Antalya, TurkeyAkdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Child Health and Diseases, Antalya, TurkeyAkdeniz University Hospital Clinic of Child Health and Diseases, Antalya, TurkeyIntroduction: Febrile seizures (FS) are common childhood seizures often triggered by fever. With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), FS cases related to the COVID-19 have also been reported. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 preventive measures on frequency with FS to the pediatric emergency department and compare characteristics of FS patients between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted using data from the our hospital’s pediatric emergency service between March 11th, 2018, and March 10th, 2022. Patients aged between 6 to 60 months with FS were included in to the study. Results: A total of 385 FS admissions from 342 patients were evaluated. During the pandemic period, total paediatric emergency admissions decreased by 38.3%, while admissions related to FS decreased by 51.4%. The ratio of FS-related admissions to total admissions decreased from 0.30% to 0.23% (p=0.025). The distribution of FS type differed significantly between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods (p=0.006), and the proportion of complicated FS cases was higher during the pandemic. Conclusions: This study revealed a decline in FS admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely due to quarantine measures that reduced the transmission of respiratory infections. Notably, the rate of admission of complex FS cases and hospitalizations increased during the pandemic. Adherence to isolation and hygiene practices might contribute to reducing FS incidence in the aftermath of the pandemic.https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/have-pandemic-measures-reduced-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-assessment-of-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-in-the-pre-and-post-covid-19-period/doi/jcp.2024.82687febril seizurecovid-19pandemicpediatric emergencyfever
spellingShingle Nazlı Sivil
Furkan Donbaloğlu
Özlem Tolu Kendir
Nilgün Erkek
Özgür Duman
Şenay Haspolat
Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
Güncel Pediatri
febril seizure
covid-19
pandemic
pediatric emergency
fever
title Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
title_full Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
title_fullStr Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
title_full_unstemmed Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
title_short Have Pandemic Measures Reduced the Frequency of Febrile Seizures? Assessment of the Frequency of Febrile Seizures in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Period
title_sort have pandemic measures reduced the frequency of febrile seizures assessment of the frequency of febrile seizures in the pre and post covid 19 period
topic febril seizure
covid-19
pandemic
pediatric emergency
fever
url https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/have-pandemic-measures-reduced-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-assessment-of-the-frequency-of-febrile-seizures-in-the-pre-and-post-covid-19-period/doi/jcp.2024.82687
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