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Febrile seizures. Recognition and management
1Section of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Drugs
|June 1, 1994
Summary
Most febrile seizures in children are benign and do not need long-term medication. Careful evaluation helps distinguish these from serious seizures, reassuring parents and guiding treatment for fever and seizure emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Febrile seizures are common in infants and children.
- Most febrile seizures are benign and self-limiting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate benign febrile seizures from those requiring further evaluation.
- To guide management and parental education for febrile seizures.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical history, including seizure details, family history, and developmental history.
- Physical examination.
- Assessment for risk factors of epilepsy and neurological sequelae.
Main Results:
- A benign febrile seizure syndrome can be identified through careful history and physical exam.
- One-third of children may have recurrent febrile seizures, but epilepsy risk is not significantly increased.
- Non-benign seizures require further evaluation, potentially including neuroimaging and EEG.
Conclusions:
- Most febrile seizures are benign, requiring reassurance and education on fever management and emergency seizure treatment.
- Physicians must accurately identify children with non-benign seizures for appropriate further investigation and potential antiepileptic drug treatment.