title: Rectal diazepam gel in the home management of seizures in children.
abstract: This study assessed the utility of rectal diazepam gel in the home management of prolonged or repetitive seizures in children. Thirty-eight children being prescribed rectal diazepam gel by their clinician were prospectively recruited. Seizures, rectal diazepam use, emergency department visits, and quality of life data before and after study entry were recorded. The 38 children included 14 (37%) with complex febrile seizures, and 24 with epilepsy (n = 22) or a single seizure (n = 2). There were 23 (61%) children with prolonged seizures and 15 (39%) with repetitive seizures. During the 6-month follow-up period, 12 children experienced 26 seizures which met the criteria for rectal diazepam administration. Rectal diazepam gel was administered to 8 children on 19 occasions. In 16 (84%) of these episodes, seizures stopped and no emergency department visit was required. Parental stress was decreased between baseline and 6 months in both the overall group and in all the subgroups. Home use of rectal diazepam gel is effective in aborting seizure activity, often avoiding an emergency department visit. Its use reduces morbidity and costs associated with hospital visits and provides parents a treatment option for home management of prolonged or repetitive seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Dell
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinnar
authors.forename: Karen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ballaban-Gil
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hornick
authors.forename: Maryana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sigalova
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Solomon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moshé
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003975:Diazepam