title: Absence of serum chemistry abnormalities in pediatric patients presenting with seizures.
abstract: To determine the utility of the routine practice of obtaining serum chemistry values on children presenting after a seizure, we reviewed the emergency department records of 241 episodes of seizures in pediatric patients. One hundred fifty-five nonfebrile (49 initial, 106 recurrent) and 86 febrile (53 initial, 33 recurrent) convulsive episodes were analyzed. At least one serum chemistry value was obtained in 149 (64%) patients. Clinically significant abnormalities were found in 0/149 serum sodium, 0/148 glucose and blood urea nitrogen, 0/86 calcium, and 0/61 magnesium studies. We concluded that routine determination of serum chemistry values in pediatric patients presenting with a seizure is unnecessary unless specific clinical data strongly suggest otherwise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008499:Medical Records; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium