Febrile convulsions: acute seizure characteristics and anti-convulsant therapy.

Abstract

A descriptive study using data from the medical records of 448 children with febrile convulsion was carried out to determine the seizure characteristics and use of anti-convulsant therapy for febrile convulsions in a Malaysian hospital. There was a higher incidence of multiple seizures and a lower incidence of focal seizures in the local population than in studies done among Western populations. The majority of initial seizures occurred within 24 h of fever onset. Transient neurological abnormalities following an acute seizure were common. A quarter of children referred by general practitioners had been given anti-convulsants prior to referral but up to 20% of general practitioners had used ineffective routes for administering diazepam. However, diazepam used in the hospital was found to be effective in controlling acute febrile seizures.

• Authors: S G Ling
• Journal: Annals of tropical paediatrics (Ann Trop Paediatr) Vol. 20 Issue 3 Pg. 227-30 (Sep 2000) ISSN: 0272-4936 [Print] England
• PMID: 11064777 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Diazepam

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Diazepam (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Infant
• Malaysia
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Seizures, Febrile (drug therapy, ethnology)