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Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore the association between respiratory viruses and febrile seizures (FS), and to analyze the impact of these viruses on the type and management of FS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 49,445 emergency cases from September 2021 to December 2023. Among these, 266 patients with FS were identified. Nasopharyngeal swabs were performed to detect respiratory viruses. We categorized FS into simple febrile seizures (SFS) and complex febrile seizures (CFS) based on established criteria. Results: Of the 266 FS cases, 150 had a nasopharyngeal swab and 76.6% were positive for respiratory viruses. The most frequently detected viruses were rhinovirus (19.6%), adenovirus (18.9%), and influenza A (11.3%). Influenza A was significantly associated with CFS (p=0.016), while influenza B and metapneumovirus were linked to SFS (p<0.05). Besides, CFS patients had more frequent blood tests and higher rates of abnormal results compared to CFS patients. Seasonal variation was observed, with a peak in FS cases during the spring and late 2022, and a decrease in spring-summer 2023. Conclusions: Respiratory viruses play a significant role in the occurrence of FS. The study highlights the importance of viral testing in the diagnosis and management of FS.

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