Seizure in Pediatric Patients With SARS-CoV-2 or Influenza A Infections and Fever.

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the frequency and clinical characteristics of seizures with fever (SWF) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A. Data of patients below 18 years of age diagnosed with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza A infections in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Approximately 83 (14.4%) patients of SARS-CoV-2 and 68 (7.3%) of influenza A cases had seizures. Among 83 patients with SARS-CoV-2 induced seizures, 10 exhibited afebrile seizures and 65 (11.6%) exhibited SWF, whereas all 69 patients with influenza A-induced seizures exhibited SWF. Among the children with SWF, 23.1% of those with SARS-CoV-2 and 42.2% of those with influenza were aged above 5 years. In addition, the frequency of SWF caused by SARS-CoV-2 increased significantly from 2022 onward. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a higher frequency of SWF than influenza A, and it can also induce afebrile seizures.