Introduction: In spite of the fact that there are epidemiological differences between India and the United States, the AAP 2010 guiding principles are adhered to perform Lumbar Puncture in the first occurrence of febrile seizures, having incidence of 2-5% in >1month old children and most frequently between 6 months to 5 years old children. Aim and Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for meningitis for the first incidence of febrile seizures among children between the ages of 6 and 18 months. Materials and Methods: In a tertiary care centre in northeastern India, 200 children between the ages of 6 and 18 months who had been admitted with their first episode of FS underwent this cross-sectional research. The lumbar puncture was carried out, and clinical, blood, CSF variables were analyzed by the SPSS version 21.0. Results: Children aged 6 to 18 months who presented with the initial episode of FS had a meningitis prevalence of 16% (n=32). In 3% (n=6) of patients, bacterial meningitis (BM) was seen. Higher Total Leukocyte Count (TLC) i.e. >16500 cells/mm3 with positive C – reactive protein (CRP) were the independent predictors of meningitis. Seven patients (3 of S. pneumoniae, 2 of MRSA, 1 each of K. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis) had positive blood cultures. In 56.2% (n=18) among the meningitis cases, monocytes were the most prevalent kind of cell to be found. Conclusion: Given that meningitis is more common in kids with initial episodes of FS in India as compared to the USA and that India has a much lower immunization rate for the Haemophilus (Hib) & pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) than the USA; India have to develop its own criteria to perform lumbar puncture in instances with initial occurrence of FS. In patients who have elevated TLC (>16500 cells/mm3) and positive CRP, meningitis might be anticipated.

Introduction: In spite of the fact that there are epidemiological differences between India and the United States, the AAP 2010 guiding principles are adhered to perform Lumbar Puncture in the first occurrence of febrile seizures, having incidence of 2-5% in >1month old children and most frequently between 6 months to 5 years old children. Aim and Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for meningitis for the first incidence of febrile seizures among children between the ages of 6 and 18 months. Materials and Methods: In a tertiary care centre in northeastern India, 200 children between the ages of 6 and 18 months who had been admitted with their first episode of FS underwent this cross-sectional research. The lumbar puncture was carried out, and clinical, blood, CSF variables were analyzed by the SPSS version 21.0. Results: Children aged 6 to 18 months who presented with the initial episode of FS had a meningitis prevalence of 16% (n=32). In 3% (n=6) of patients, bacterial meningitis (BM) was seen. Higher Total Leukocyte Count (TLC) i.e. >16500 cells/mm3 with positive C – reactive protein (CRP) were the independent predictors of meningitis. Seven patients (3 of S. pneumoniae, 2 of MRSA, 1 each of K. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis) had positive blood cultures. In 56.2% (n=18) among the meningitis cases, monocytes were the most prevalent kind of cell to be found. Conclusion: Given that meningitis is more common in kids with initial episodes of FS in India as compared to the USA and that India has a much lower immunization rate for the Haemophilus (Hib) & pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) than the USA; India have to develop its own criteria to perform lumbar puncture in instances with initial occurrence of FS. In patients who have elevated TLC (>16500 cells/mm3) and positive CRP, meningitis might be anticipated.