DE INCIDENTIE VAN KOORTSCONVULSIES BIJ KINDEREN VAN 3-72 MAANDEN OUD

Objective. To assess the incidence of febfile seizures in children in the Netherlands, and their management by the general practitioner. Setting. Non-proportionally stratified sample of 103 general practices (161 general practitioners) throughout the Netherlands. Desing. Descriptive. Methods. The Dutch Institute for Research in Primary Health Care (NIVEL) carried out the National Study of Diseases und Interventions in General Practice. From April 1st, 1987 to March 31, 1988 in the 103 practices all patient contacts were recorded during 1 of 4 successive field work periods of 3 months. A febrile seizure was diagnosed when in a child aged 3-72 months both fever and a convulsion occurred in the absence of diagnosed intracranial abnormalities or epilepsy. Results. Thirty of 23,801 chirdren suffered a first febrile seizure. The overall incidence rate was 4.8/1,000 person-years. Considerable age and seasonal variation was found. The chance of a child suffering a febfile seizure in the course of the age period of 3-72 months was 2.7%. Eight children were referred to hospital. Conclusion. The incidence rate of first febrile seizure in children was similar to those found in the US, UK and Sweden.