Validity of parentally reported febrile seizures: the generation R study.
Neuropediatrics
; 44(4): 183-6, 2013 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23483446
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to examine the validity of the diagnosis of "febrile seizure" as reported by parents. The study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study. Information on paroxysmal events was obtained by screening questions at ages 1, 2, and 3 years. One of these questions was the following "Did your child have a febrile seizure?" If a screen-positive result was found, an additional questionnaire was sent and the medical record was consulted. Based on this information, paroxysmal events were classified by a pediatric neurologist as febrile seizure or other event. The validity of a positive reply to the screening question on febrile seizures was assessed, taking this classification as reference standard. Analyses were based on participants who reported at least one paroxysmal event (n = 610). The sensitivity of the positive reply to the question, "Did your child have a febrile seizure?", for the diagnosis of febrile seizures was 92%, the specificity 72%, the positive predictive value 41%, and the negative predictive value 98%. In conclusion, the sensitivity of the question, "Did your child have a febrile seizure?", is high. The positive predictive value is only 41%. Although this question may be appropriate as a screening instrument for febrile seizures, a second stage of evaluation is necessary to identify true cases.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Parents
/
Seizures, Febrile
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
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Infant
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Neuropediatrics
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Netherlands