In Other Journals

Many parents have experienced the worry and stress linked with a childhood febrile seizure, but the risks associated with these convulsions have been difficult to determine. A large Danish study of over 55 000 children with a history of febrile seizures has shown that long-term mortality does not appear to be increased in these children. The 28-year study identified a higher mortality rate in the first and second year after a febrile convulsion, with the rate returning to baseline for the normal population after this period. A nested case-control study examining the type and duration of seizure showed that children who experienced simple (15 minutes or less and no recurrence within 24 hours) febrile seizures had a mortality rate similar to the general population. The authors comment that the findings should serve to reassure parents of children who suffer simple febrile convulsions.