Frequency and Clinical Features of Febrile Convulsions in Children at General Hospital Dutse, Jigawa State, North West Nigeria

Febrile convulsions are the most common seizure disorder of childhood, often causing significant anxiety among caregivers and posing diagnostic challenges in resource-limited settings. This retrospective descriptive study documents the frequency, clinical features, and management of febrile convulsions among children aged six months to five years at General Hospital Dutse, Jigawa State, North West Nigeria, over a two-year period from January 2022 to December 2023. Records of 162 children presenting with documented febrile convulsions were reviewed. Data collected included age, sex, temperature at presentation, seizure duration, seizure type, underlying febrile illness, treatment administered, and recurrence during hospitalisation. Simple febrile convulsions accounted for 74.7% of cases, while complex febrile convulsions represented 25.3%. Malaria was the underlying febrile illness in 61.1% of cases, followed by acute otitis media (12.3%) and tonsillitis (9.9%). Mean temperature at presentation was 39.2 degrees Celsius. Diazepam was the most commonly administered anticonvulsant (82.7%). Recurrence during the same admission occurred in 14.8% of children. Caregiver panic and fear of death were reported in 91.4% of cases. The findings underscore the need for structured caregiver education on first-aid management of febrile seizures and the importance of treating underlying infections promptly. Integration of parental counselling into paediatric fever management protocols is recommended. Keywords: febrile convulsions, childhood seizures, Jigawa State, malaria, North West Nigeria.