Role of electroencephalogram and neuroimaging in first onset afebrile and complex febrile seizures in children from Kashmir

OBJECTIVES: (1) To determine the frequency of abnormal neuroimaging in children with new-onset afebrile and complex febrile seizures; (2) to draw a correlation between Electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuroimaging. STUDY DESIGN: A hospital-based prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 276 children (6 months to 14 years of age), who presented with new-onset afebrile or complex febrile seizures, underwent EEG and neuroimaging [Computed Tomography (CT) and/or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)]. RESULTS: Generalized seizures constituted the major seizure group in our study – 116/276 (42%) – followed by partial seizures 86/276 (31.2%) and complex febrile seizure in 64/276 (23.2%). Generalized as well as partial seizures were more common in children aged 6-14 years, while complex febrile seizures were predominantly seen in children less than 6 years old. Most of the patients with generalized and partial seizures had EEG abnormalities, while EEG abnormalities were uncommon in patients with complex febrile seizures. A total of 27/276 (9.8%) patients with seizure disorder had abnormal CT scans and this abnormality was more common in patients with partial seizures. CT abnormality was seen more commonly in those patients who had an abnormal EEG. EEG and CT correlation showed that patients with abnormal EEG had higher rates of CT abnormality, ie, 16.1% (25/155). Abnormal MRI was seen in 32/157 (20.4%) of patients; accuracy of picking abnormality by MRI, when EEG was abnormal, was 24.8% (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that clinical examination and EEG results are good indicators for neuroimaging, and these can be used as one of the criteria for ordering neuroimaging in new-onset seizures.