Efficacy of a diazepam suppository at preventing febrile seizure recurrence during a single febrile illness.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of diazepam suppositories at preventing febrile seizure recurrence during a single febrile illness to determine how to treat children with a febrile seizure on presentation at the hospital.


METHODS
We studied 203 children with febrile seizures from December 2004 through March 2006. On admission between December 2004 and May 2005, a diazepam suppository was administered to the patients. Patients seen between June 2005 and March 2006 were not treated with antiepileptic drugs on admission.


RESULTS
We saw a significant difference in the rate of recurrence of febrile seizures between children treated with diazepam and those who were not. Recurrences were observed in 2 (2.1%) of 95 children treated with diazepam and in 16 (14.8%) of 108 untreated children. For the 108 untreated patients, the median age was 22.8 months in those with recurrences and 30.6 months in those without, confirming that a younger age was related to a recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
A diazepam suppository after a febrile seizure will reduce the incidence of recurrent febrile seizures during the same febrile illness. However, a diazepam suppository after a febrile seizure should be used after carefully considering the benefits and potential adverse effects.
Hirabayashi
Yu
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Tosei General Hospital, 160 Nishioiwake-cho, Seto, Aichi, Japan. yuhirabayashi@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Okumura
Akihisa
A
Kondo
Taiki
T
Magota
Miyuki
M
Kawabe
Shinji
S
Kando
Naoyuki
N
Yamaguchi
Hideaki
H
Natsume
Jun
J
Negoro
Tamiko
T
Watanabe
Kazuyoshi
K
D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053609:Lethargy / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013488:Suppositories / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D013488:Suppositories; D003975:Diazepam