Management and prophylaxis of seizures in children

The National Child Development Study, U.K., provides a perspective of the types of seizures that might be anticipated in a representative childhood population. Management is considered under the broad headings of general and specific considerations. A classification enables a physician to perform a rapid triage of a child experiencing a seizure. Specific management considerations are outlined for status epilepticus, febrile seizures, and recurrent afebrile seizures, particularly of absence and temporal lobe type. Prophylaxis of post traumatic seizures, and the importance of recognizing the group of childhood disorders mimicking seizures, are also discussed.