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Febrile seizure outcomes similar with or without association to vaccination
Clinical Question
In young children, are vaccine-associated febrile seizures more concerning than febrile seizures not associated with vaccination?
Bottom line
In this study, the relatively few febrile seizures associated with vaccination were not different with regard to hospitalization, length of stay, intensive care requirement, repeat febrile seizure, or the need for seizure prophylaxis on discharge as compared with febrile seizures not associated with vaccination. 1b-
Reference
Study design: Cohort (prospective)
Funding: Government
Setting: Emergency department
Synopsis
These investigators identified all 1022 children younger than 7 years (mean age 19.8 months) presenting with a first febrile seizure to 1 of 5 Australian pediatric hospitals over a 13-month period. Of these children, 67 (6%) experienced a seizure up to 14 days after receiving a vaccination (0 to 2 days after an inactivated vaccine or 5 to 14 days after a live-attenuated vaccine). Most vaccine-associated seizures occurred after the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. When compared with non-vaccine-proximate febrile seizures, vaccine-associated seizures had no increased risk of prolonged hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, seizures lasting more than 15 minutes, repeat febrile seizure within 24 hours, or requirement for antiseizure treatment upon discharge.
Reviewer
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, MMedEd
Professor of Family Medicine
Tufts University
Boston, MA
Comments
Vaccinated vs. unvaccinated
It would be tremendously enlightening to know what the incidence of febrile seizures are among completely unvaccinated children compared to partially vaccinated compared to fully vaccinated. And then to look at hospitalization, length of stay, ICU requirement, repeat seizure and need for prophylaxis on discharge.