Frequency of a Positive Cerebrospinal Fluid Study in Patients Presenting With Febrile Seizures

Background: Febrile seizures are a common neurological condition in pediatric practice, affecting 2-5% of children globally. These seizures occur in the context of fever without evidence of central nervous system infection or metabolic disturbance. While often benign, febrile seizures are associated with significant morbidity and can cause considerable distress for both patients and caregivers. The role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures is not well understood, but identifying these factors may help predict the risk of seizure occurrence. Objective: To determine the frequency of positive cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in pediatric patients with febrile seizures and to assess the impact of these abnormalities on the risk of febrile seizures. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2023 at the Department of Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. A total of 117 pediatric patients aged 1 to 12 years with a history of febrile seizures presenting with a febrile illness were included. Patients with prior febrile seizures, metabolic/electrolyte disorders, or signs of meningeal infection were excluded. Comprehensive data collection included demographic information, clinical history, and CSF analysis for cell count, total protein, glucose, lactate, and electrolyte levels. Patients were monitored for febrile seizure occurrence during hospitalization. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with continuous variables expressed as medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the association between CSF abnormalities and febrile seizures. Results: The median age of the patients was 3.0 years (IQR: 2.0), with 57.3% (n=67) being male. Febrile seizures occurred in 22.2% (n=26) of patients during hospitalization. Elevated CSF total protein (>60 mg/dL) was observed in 28.2% of patients, CSF glucose (>42 mg/dL) in 12.0%, CSF lactate (>2.0 mmol/L) in 13.7%, and CSF calcium (>1.25 mmol/L) in 10.3%. These abnormalities were significantly associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures: CSF total protein (OR: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.42–8.86, p=0.005), CSF glucose (OR: 13.59, 95% CI: 3.79–48.71, p<0.001), CSF lactate (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 1.53–13.92, p=0.004), and CSF calcium (OR: 15.52, 95% CI: 3.81–63.36, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study identified significant associations between elevated CSF total protein, glucose, lactate, and calcium levels and an increased risk of febrile seizures in pediatric patients. CSF analysis could be a valuable tool in identifying children at higher risk for febrile seizures, potentially guiding preventive strategies and clinical management.