Final answer:
Abnormal CSF in children with fever and seizures may be due to bacterial meningitis or hydrocephalus, indicated by abnormal levels of PMNs, glucose, and protein. Symptoms like temperature instability and seizures can point to serious CNS infection or inflammation. Lumbar puncture and analysis of CSF are crucial in diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk factors for abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in children with fever and seizures largely relate to conditions that may result in inflammation or infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Abnormal levels of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), glucose, and protein in the CSF, as detected via lumbar puncture, can be indicative of bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, hydrocephalus, caused by the blockage of a ventricle leading to a build-up of CSF, can also cause seizures and other cognitive issues.
Symptoms suggestive of serious CNS infection or inflammation that can lead to abnormal CSF include temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, feeding difficulty, irritability, limpness, seizures, bulging fontanel, stiff neck, and opisthotonos. A severe and rapid onset of symptoms may suggest other conditions, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), as evidenced by the presence of 14-3-3 protein in the CSF and abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) readings. Therefore, clinical assessment, including lumbar puncture and CSF analysis, is essential in diagnosing the underlying cause of abnormal CSF in children presenting with fever and seizures.