Clinical features of complex febrile seizure caused by primary human herpesvirus 6B infection

Misa Miyake, Yoshiki Kawamura, Fumihiko Hattori, Hiroki Miura, Naoko Ishihara, Tetsushi Yoshikawa. Clinical features of complex febrile seizure caused by primary human herpesvirus 6B infection.  Petiar Neurol  Published: March 28, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.03.015

Abstract

Background

It is well known that febrile seizure is common complication of exanthem subitum. In this study, we compared the clinical features and backgrounds of complex febrile seizure patients with and without primary HHV-6B infection.

Methods

Sixty-two patients were enrolled after experiencing their first febrile seizure. Primary HHV-6B infection was confirmed when HHV-6B DNA was detected and HHV-6B antibody was negative in serum obtained during the acute phase of infection. Patient backgrounds such as age, gender and features of seizures were evaluated between patients with and without HHV-6B infection.

Results

Thirty complex febrile seizure patients were diagnosed with primary HHV-6B infection. Those with primary HHV-6B infection (median, 13 months; range, 7–39 months) were significantly younger than those without primary HHV-6B infection (median, 19 months; range, 10–59 months) (P=0.001), and the proportion of males was significantly higher in patients without primary HHV-6B infection (male/female, 25/7) than in those with the infection (male/female, 14/16) (P=0.017). An interval between fever onset and seizures more than 24 hours after fever onset were significantly more common in the patients with primary HHV-6B infection (15 of the 30 patients) than in those without primary HHV-6B infection (2 of the 32 patients) (P <0.001).

Conclusions

The younger age at onset, the different gender ratio with febrile seizure due to other causes, and the length of interval between fever and seizures were features of complex febrile seizure associated HHV-6B infection. These findings may suggest a different mechanism of complex febrile seizure onset with due to other causes.

Courtesy of:  https://www.mdlinx.com/journal-summaries/seizure-disorders-seizure-disorders-pediatric-conditions/2020/03/30/7634698?spec=neurology