Managing febrile seizures in children.
A febrile seizure is a benign convulsion that occurs in infants or small children and is brought on by fever without evidence of meningitis or encephalitis. Little is known about the etiology; however, it is associated with disease processes outside the central nervous system. In most children, the primary causative factors appears to be the height and rapidity of temperature elevation, which usually exceeds 101.8 degrees F (38.8 degrees C). Seizures occur most often during the temperature rise itself rather than after a prolonged elevation. Variation persists in interpretation, evaluation, and treatment of children with febrile seizures, rendering the diagnosis one of exclusion. Pharmacologic treatment for febrile seizures should be easy to administer, have virtually no adverse effects, and be remarkably efficacious. Along with invasive intervention and pharmacologic management, the clinician must also provide counseling during this stressful event.
Champi
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C
Department of Nursing, University of Scranton, Pa., USA.
Gaffney-Yocum
P A
PA
D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology