Evaluation of Serum Sodium Levels in Simple, Multiple and Recurrent Febrile Convulsions

Febrile seizure is the most common form of childhood seizures that occur in 2–5% of them. The purpose of this study was to compare serum sodium level in first simple, multiple and recurrent febrile convulsions to answer whether serum sodium levels can predict febrile seizure recurrence in 24 hours and in other febrile episodes? In a retrospective study, sodium serum levels of all children aged 6 months to 6 years with final diagnosis of first febrile seizure admitted between March 2004 and August 2005 to Yazd Shaheed Sadoughi Hospital, were compared in simple, multiple and recurrence febrile convulsions. 139 cases with final diagnosis of first febrile seizure found among whom serum sodium checked in 112.54 girls and 58 boys with mean age of 2.01 ± 1.2 years evaluated. Type of febrile convulsions was complex in 36.6% of them. 18% had multiple (occurrence of more than one seizure during the febrile illness) seizures and 35.7% showed seizure recurrence in other fever episodes among whom 88% occurred in first year. Mean survival recurrence rate was 6.7 ± 5.9 months. There is no significant differences in age and serum sodium level among the three groups. Association of relative hyponatremia and febrile seizure recurrence was not confirmed. These findings reaffirm the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics to not routinely obtain electrolytes in febrile convulsion unless clinically indicated.