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infectious disease
Infectious Diseases
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see all the details of this page on pediatry infectious disease
FEBRILE SEIZURES
DEFINITION:
A benign seizure occurring in the absence of evidence of meningitis or encephalitis in a febrile child.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 incidence: 2-5% of febrile children less than 5 years of age
 40% of all first seizures are febrile
 most common seizure disorder in childhood
 age of onset:
 between 4 months -> 5 years
 peak (14-18 months); median (18 months)
 risk factors:
 temperature >38 C
 having 2 or more of the following increase the risk of having a febrile seizure from 2-5% to 30% in the general population:
 a first degree relative (parent or sibling) with a febrile seizure
 a second degree relative (uncle, aunt, grandparent) with a febrile seizure
 developmental delay (slowed psychomotor development)
 delayed neonatal discharge (of >28 days)
 attendance at day care
PATHOGENESIS:
1. Background
 positive family history of febrile seizures may indicate a predisposition towards a lowered seizure threshold in these patients
 there is little clinical evidence that the rate of temperature rise is what provokes a febrile seizure
CLINICAL FEATURES:
1. Simple Febrile Seizures
1. Definition
 a primary generalized seizure lasting less than 15 minutes and not recurring within 24 hours
2. Postictal Period
 paralysis of one limb or a gaze palsy (Todd's paralysis) may be noted in the immediate postictal period
 drowsiness
 neurologically normal before and after seizure
 no increased mortality, hemiplegia, or mental retardation
2. Complex Febrile Seizures
1. Definition
 a seizure which is focal, prolonged (>15 minutes), and/or recurring within 24 hours of the initial seizure
 focal seizures may involve an arm, leg, or face on one side only or eye deviation towards one side
INVESTIGATIONS:
1. Routine Blood Work
 CBC with differential
 electrolytes:
 a serum sodium between 136-142 mmol/L (normal range) is associated with a recurrence risk of 10%
 a serum sodium less than 130 mmol/L is associated with a recurrence risk of 60%
 others:
 magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and glucose are not indicated on a routine basis
2. Septic Work-up
 if clinically indicated
 to rule out sepsis or meningitis
 CBC with diff.
 urinalysis
 blood cultures
 lumbar puncture
 chest x-ray
 as the signs and symptoms of meningitis may be minimal or absent in those less than 18 months of age, a lumbar puncture should be considered in those patients less than 18 months of age
3. CT/MRI
 not indicated even for multiple complex febrile seizures
4. EEG
 not indicated even for multiple complex febrile seizures
MANAGEMENT:
1. Acute
1. Control Temperature
 tylenol 15 mg/kg/dose po q3-4h
 sponging a febrile child with tepid water does not appear to be effective in reducing an elevated temperature
2. Control Seizure
 rectal valium or ativan are the drugs of choice for acute prolonged febrile seizures
 diazepam (valium) 0.3-0.5 mg/kg PR or
 lorazepam (ativan) 0.05-0.1 mg/kg PR
2. Prophylaxis
1. Intermittent
 medications to be used whenever the temperature >38 C
 intermittent anticonvulsant therapy with diazepam may prevent recurrences but is associated with side effects (ataxia, lethargy, irritability)
2. Prolonged
 medications given on a daily basis
 prolonged anticonvulsant therapy with phenobarbitol, valproic acid, phenytoin, or carbamazepine for prevention of recurrences is not indicated
3. Prognosis
1. Recurrence Risk
 there is a 30-40% chance of at least one recurrence and a 10% chance of three or more recurrences
 most recurrences occur within 6-12 months of the initial febrile seizure
 risk factors for recurrence:
 family history of febrile seizures and/or epilepsy
 age <14 months at first febrile seizure
 a short duration of illness (less than 24 hours) prior to the febrile seizure
 low temperature at time of the febrile seizure
 attendance at day care
 developmental delay
 (complex febrile seizures do not appear to be a risk factor for recurrence)
2. Epilepsy Risk
 only 2-4% of children with one febrile seizure develop epilepsy (i.e., 96-98% don't)
 only 2% of children with a simple febrile seizure develop epilepsy
 12% of children with a complex febrile seizure develop epilepsy
 15-20% of children with epilepsy have a history of a previous febrile seizure (this may indicate that febrile seizures act as a marker for those with a lower seizure threshold)
 there does not appear to be any significant risk factors to indicate those who will develop epilepsy after a single febrile seizure
3. Brain Damage
 there does not appear to be any evidence that a prolonged febrile seizure (greater than 15 minutes) causes subsequent brain damage (however, any child seizing for an hour or more may be at risk)
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