title: Strict bed rest following lumbar puncture in children and adolescents is of no benefit.
abstract: The effect of 24-hour bed rest or free mobility on the frequency of complaints following diagnostic lumbar puncture was studied in a randomized trial of 111 patients aged 2 to 17 years. Patients of the bed-rest group encountered significantly more head- or backaches (positional headache 15 vs 2%; all headaches 39 vs 21%; backaches 42 vs 23%). There were no differences in the frequencies of nausea or neck stiffness. Prophylactic bed rest following lumbar puncture in children and adolescents is of no benefit and may actually be disadvantageous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, University Pediatric Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Germany. friedrich_ebinger@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ebinger
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosel
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pietz
authors.forename: Dietz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rating
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome