title: The management of febrile seizures in the Mersey Region.
abstract: The management of children with febrile seizures admitted to hospital within the Mersey region was evaluated by case note review. The patient groups were demographically similar in all the participating hospitals. Most children were admitted for less than 48 hours and nearly all received paracetamol as an antipyretic. There was a marked variation in the number of investigations performed in each hospital, with venepunctures for blood cultures and white blood cell counts ranging from 6 to 56% and from 8 to 70%, respectively. The majority of children had a urinalysis. 23 to 78% of children were prescribed antibiotics. Further studies are required on the value of hospital admission and the appropriate use of investigations and antibiotics in children with febrile seizures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monteil
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choonara
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004739:England; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000082:Acetaminophen