Frequency of Respiratory Tract Infections in Children of 6 Months to 6 Years Admitted with Simple Febrile Seizures at Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad

Background: Febrile seizures among children are common and can be influential for the family and child alike. Determination of underlying factors, especially respiratory tract infections (RTIs), is critical in the determination of the likely precipitating factors for febrile seizures. RTIs as precipitating factors for febrile seizures have been studied extensively, but the link between RTIs and demographic factors is still unclear. Objective:To determine the frequency of respiratory tract infection in children of 6 months to 6 years admitted with simple febrile seizure at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: The study was conducted from May 2024 to November 2024 at the Department of Pediatrics Medicine, MTI-Ayub Teaching Hospital in Abbottabad. Methodology: 111 children aged between 6 months and 6 years were selected. Children with fever and diagnosed with simple febrile seizure by a pediatrician were included. Central nervous system infections, gastroenteritis with dehydration, and metabolic and developmental disorders were excluded. Results: Our study found that 30.6% of the children diagnosed with simple febrile seizures also had an RTI. The demographic findings indicated that most were male (54.1%), urban residents (65.8%), and from low-income families (45%). The mean was 3.45 ± 1.72 years, with a mean duration of symptoms of 30.53 ± 11.01 hours and mean time for convulsions of 57.07 ± 32.95 seconds. Conclusion: This study concluded that respiratory tract infections are a significant marker for febrile seizures, particularly in children with a family history of such seizures.