Serum sodium levels do not predict recurrence of febrile seizures within 24 hours

BACKGROUND: Febrile seizures recur within 24 hours in around 16% of children. Some studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between serum sodium levels and recurrent febrile seizures. AIM: To investigate whether the serum sodium level predicts recurrence of febrile seizures within 24 hours. METHODS: The study was undertaken in children with febrile seizures in the period from January 2007 to December 2011. Retrospective data collected from medical records included age, gender, family history of febrile seizures, body temperature, duration of recognised fever and serum sodium levels. RESULTS: 315 children were diagnosed with febrile seizures with a mean (SD) age of 21.7 (12.5) months, and 181 (57.5%) were male. Forty-seven episodes of recurrent febrile seizures within 24 hours occurred in 39 children (12.4%). There was no significant difference in mean (SD) serum sodium levels between the 276 patients with single febrile seizures [134.94 (3.09) mmol/L] and those in whom febrile seizures recurred within 24 hours [134.49 (3.24) mmol/L]. A family history of febrile seizures was a significant predictive risk factor of recurrence within 24 hours (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that serum sodium levels do not predict the recurrence of febrile seizures within 24 hours.