Febrile Seizures: Evidence for Evolution of an Operational Strategy from an Armed Forces Referral Hospital

Current recommendations for 'Febrile seizures' management include emergency first aid and treatment along with intermittent prophylaxis. Evidence of practices, efficacy, side-effects, and complications should lead to refined and rational management strategies.

Study of cases referred and treated at a tertiary level hospital, providing referral services to a large state in India. Evidence sought for the research questions identified, these were (i) immediate treatment: First aid components and practices; response to drug treatment (ii) intermittent prophylaxis: effectiveness, compliance, and side-effects (iii) complications arising due to treatment side-effects: quantifying the number of cases of CNS infections missed as a result of alterations in consciousness levels due to benzodiazepines.

A total of 85 febrile seizure cases were studied. Full correct "First Aid" was provided by only 13 parents. Total 35 cases (41.18%) had seizures lasting more than 05 minutes. Emergency treatment for these included rectal diazepam in 14 cases with 57.14% success in terminating seizure, and intranasal midazolam in 21 cases with 71.43% success. The cases with persisting seizures were managed as status epilepticus treatment algorithm. Intermittent prophylaxis prevented recurrence of seizures in 90%, however side-effects were reported in 36.36%. There was no case of CNS infection missed.

Safe and effective management strategy should include "Health education" for correct first aid and 'Protocols' for timely and correct emergency treatment by parents/pre-hospital teams/emergency duty doctors. Intermittent prophylaxis is effective but refinements needed to minimize side-effects. Vigilant clinical monitoring obviates the fear that treatment may mask CNS infection.