Hong Kong Journal of Paediatrics [HK J Paediatr (New Series) 2016;21:156-161]

Department of Pediatrics, Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
A Kanik MD
K Eliacik MD
S Yesiloglu MD
U Karadas MD
M Helvaci MD.

Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
M Anil MD

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
DY Ciftdogan MD

Department of Pediatric Neurology, Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
B Sarioglu MD

Correspondence to: Dr A Kanik

Received October 25, 2015

*This study has been presented at the 57th Turkish National Pediatric Congress, Antalya, Turkey in 03 November 2013 and won the special award of oral presentation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the probability of bacterial meningitis presenting with a first simple febrile seizure or complex febrile seizure without any conspicuous signs of meningitis. Methods: This was a record based cross-sectional study of 564 patients of 624 months of age and was evaluated in a paediatric emergency department between 2007 and 2013 for their first febrile seizure. Results: In the study group 452 (80%) were diagnosed with simple febrile seizure and 112 (20%) with complex febrile seizure. In neither group was any patient diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. The number of children undergoing lumbar puncture was significantly higher in the complex febrile seizure group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The ratio of bacterial meningitis was not increased in patients with complex febrile seizure who otherwise appeared well and lacked clinical findings of meningitis like the patients with simple febrile seizure.