title: Sodium valproate in the prophylaxis of simple febrile convulsions.
abstract: Thirty children with simple febrile convulsions were treated with sodium valproate following their second convulsion. Twenty-two of the 30 (73%) had no further convulsions during the one-year period of observation compared with 17 of 28 in the control group (61%). This was not a statistically significant difference. Side effects attributed to sodium valproate treatment were noted in 7 patients (23%), although 4 of these showed only mild transient gastrointestinal symptoms at high dosage. The study did not confirm any advantage in the use of sodium valproate as a prophylaxis for febrile convulsions, although compliance was good and significant side effects infrequent.
mesh_terms: D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid