Home and hospital treatment of acute seizures in children with nasal midazolam.

Rectal diazepam is widely used in the treatment of acute seizures in children but has some disadvantages. Nasal/sublingual midazolam administration has been recently investigated for this purpose but never at home or in a general paediatric hospital. The aim of this open study was to determine the efficacy, the tolerance and the applicability of nasal midazolam during acute seizures in children both in hospital and at home. We included known epileptic children for treatment at home and all children with acute seizures in the hospital. In all, 26 children were enrolled, 11 at home and 17 in the hospital (including two treated in both locations); only one had simple febrile seizure. They had a total of 125 seizures; 122 seizures (98%) stopped within 10 minutes (average 3.6 minutes). Two patients in the hospital did not respond and in three, seizures recurred within 3 hours. None had serious adverse effects. Parents had no difficulties administering the drug at home. Most of those who were using rectal diazepam found that nasal midazolam was easier to use and that postictal recovery was faster. Among 15 children who received the drug under electroencephalogram monitoring (six without clinical seizures), the paroxysmal activity disappeared in ten and decreased in three. Nasal midazolam is efficient in the treatment of acute seizures. It appears to be safe and most useful outside the hospital in severe epilepsies, particularly in older children because it is easy for parents to use. These data should be confirmed in a larger sample of children. Its usefulness in febrile convulsions also remains to be evaluated.     

Epilepsy and mental retardation following febrile seizures in childhood

In an unselected group of children who were seen following an initial febrile convulsion, the frequency of subsequent afebrile seizures was 3.5% and of mental retardation 1%. The most common afebrile seizure type was generalized major (86%). About 3/4 of the children who developed afebrile seizures did so by three years and all by five years following the initial febrile seizure. The children with afebrile seizures differed from those without afebrile seizures in the frequency of neonatal abnormality, family history of mental retardation, focal initial febrile convulsions, and delay in psychomotor milestones before the initial febrile seizure. Only about 1/3 of the children who developed afebrile seizures ever had a recurrent febrile convulsion and none had complex recurrent febrile seizures. Half the children with mental retardation had histories of delay in psychomotor milestones prior to the initial febrile seizure, and no child with mental retardation had any seizure longer than five minutes. The administration of daily phenobarbital did not reduce the frequency of epilepsy, in spite of a significant reduction in the incidence of recurrent febrile seizures. There remains no evidence that the prevention of recurrent febrile convulsions significantly decreases the frequency of afebrile seizures or mental retardation.     

Epilepsy and Mental Retardation Following Febrile Seizures In Childhood

ABSTRACT. In an unselected group of children who were seen following an initial febrile convulsion, the frequency of subsequent afebrile seizures was 3.5% and of mental retardation 1%. The most common afebrile seizure type was generalized major (86%). About 3/4 of the children who developed afebrile seizures did so by three years and all by five years following the initial febrile seizure. The children with afebrile seizures differed from those without afebrile seizures in the frequency of neonatal abnormality, family history of mental retardation, focal initial febrile convulsions, and delay in psychomotor milestones before the initial febrile seizure. Only about 1/3 of the children who developed afebrile seizures ever had a recurrent febrile convulsion and none had complex recurrent febrile seizures. Half the children with mental retardation had histories of delay in psychomotor milestones prior to the initial febrile seizure, and no child with mental retardation had any seizure longer than five minutes. The administration of daily phenobarbital did not reduce the frequency of epilepsy, in spite of a significant reduction in the incidence of recurrent febrile seizures. There remains no evidence that the prevention of recurrent febrile convulsions significantly decreases the frequency of afebrile seizures or mental retardation.     

Effective short-term diazepam prophylaxis in febrile convulsions

The efficacy of short-term diazepam prophylaxis in febrile convulsions was evaluated in a prospective, controlled study. A total of 289 consecutive children admitted with their first febrile seizure were randomized into two groups. One group received short-term prophylaxis for 18 months with rectally administered diazepam in solution whenever the temperature was greater than or equal to 38.5 degrees C. The control group received no prophylaxis, but diazepam rectally in the event of new seizures. The short-term prophylaxis, a mean of five doses of diazepam per child per year, afforded effective seizure control; the 18-month recurrence rate was reduced from 39% to 12% (P less than 0.001), the total number of recurrences from 77 to 23 (P less than 0.001), the long-lasting recurrences from 5.0% to 0.7% (P less than 0.05). The risk of subsequent epilepsy within the first 2 years was the same, regardless of receiving prophylaxis (3%) or not (3%); it was low after simple febrile convulsions (no cases of epilepsy in 230 children) but considerable after complex febrile seizures (20%) or seizures associated with severe interictal EEG abnormalities (50%).     

Indications for intermittent diazepam prophylaxis in febrile seizures

BACKGROUND: In a prospective controlled study we evaluated the efficacy of intermittent diazepam prophylaxis in the recurrence rate of febrile seizures (FS). PATIENTS: A total of 139 children aged between 6 and 36 months, who had a first FS, were enrolled in the study and were randomly allocated to two groups: group (A) that received diazepam prophylaxis and group (B) without prophylaxis. METHODS: All children were followed up for at least 3 years after their first FS. The prophylaxis group (n = 68) received rectal diazepam the first two days of a febrile illness, whenever the temperature was > 38 degrees C (0.33 mg/kg every 8 h on the first day, and 0.33 mg/kg every 12 h on the second day of fever, max. dosage 7.5 mg). The no-prophylaxis group (n = 71) did not receive any prophylaxis at all. Each group was stratified to low, intermediate and high risk subgroups according to the following clinical data: age at the first febrile seizure 相似文献   

616例小儿热性惊厥首次发作的临床特点及危险因素分析

目的了解热性惊厥患儿首次发作的临床特点及危险因素,指导临床医师对有危险因素的患儿采取相应干预措施,降低热性惊厥的发生。方法选取我院2016年8月至2018年8月收治的616例首次热性惊厥患儿为研究对象,回顾性分析患儿的临床特征及首次发作危险因素,并随机抽取同期发热但无惊厥发作(既往也无惊厥病史)的601例患儿为对照组。结果616例热性惊厥患儿,男344例,女272例,汉族584例,蒙古族32例。1岁以下126例(20.5%),~3岁405例(65.8%),3岁以上85例(13.7%)。发作病因中以急性上呼吸道感染[53.6%(330/616)]、疱疹性咽峡炎[25.9%(160/616)]及幼儿急疹[10.5%(65/616)]居前3位。惊厥发作时体温在38.0℃及以上者570例(92.5%),16例(2.6%)患儿惊厥发作后出现发热。534例(86.7%)患儿在发热24 h内出现惊厥发作。608例(98.7%)患儿表现为全面强直阵挛性发作。惊厥持续时间<5 min 548例(89.0%)、~14 min 48例(7.8%)、~29 min 16例(2.6%)及≥30 min 4例(0.4%)。572例(92.9%)患儿在单次热程中仅1次惊厥发作。临床类型中单纯性热性惊厥占88.3%(544/616),复杂性热性惊厥占11.0%(68/616),惊厥持续状态占0.7%(4/616)。危险因素分析显示首次惊厥时年龄、低钠、低铁、低锌、剖宫产、异常出生史、抽搐前1周疫苗接种史及热性惊厥家族史在热性惊厥组和对照组中差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析发现首次发热惊厥年龄、低铁、剖宫产、低钠及热性惊厥家族史是热性惊厥首次发作的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。结论热性惊厥首次发作多见于3岁以内婴幼儿,以单纯性热性惊厥为主,惊厥发作时体温高,易发生于发热后24 h内,病毒感染是最常见病因。引起热性惊厥首次发作的危险因素依次为首次发作年龄、低铁、剖宫产、低钠及热性惊厥家族史,针对危险因素采取相应的干预措施可降低热性惊厥的发生。     

Double-blind, randomized trial of diazepam versus placebo for prevention of recurrence of febrile seizures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of intermittent oral administration of diazepam during hyperthermia for reducing the recurrence of febrile seizure: 185 children, between 8 months and 3 years of age, with a first febrile seizure and normal neurologic development, were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive orally administered diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, then 0.20 mg/kg, every 12 hours) or placebo, whenever the rectal temperature was more than 38 degrees C. The main criterion of efficacy was the seizure recurrence rate 1 year after the first seizure. The duration of the study was 3 years; eight different centers in France participated. There were 462 febrile episodes and 1000 days with prophylactic treatment. The recurrence rates did not differ between the diazepam group (16%) and the placebo (19.5%) group. The children with recurrent seizures were significantly younger at the time of the first seizure (17 +/- 6.9 months) than children without a recurrent seizure (21 +/- 8.5 months). In children with recurrent seizures, prophylactic treatment was correctly administered to only 1 of 15 children in the diazepam group and to 7 of 18 children in the placebo group. The following were the reasons for this poor cooperation: convulsion being the first manifestation of the fever (seven cases in each group), parents neglecting to give treatment (nine cases), and refusal to take treatment by two children. Side effects were similar in the two groups except for hyperactivity, which was more frequent in the diazepam (138 days) than in the placebo (34 days) group. Intermittent oral administration of diazepam at the onset of fever offered no advantage over placebo in preventing recurrence of seizure. This finding probably reflects a lack of efficacy of the intermittent method rather than of diazepam itself.     

Children with febrile seizures do not consume excess health care resources

BACKGROUND: Febrile seizures are benign but so terrifying for parents that they may subsequently view their affected children as "vulnerable". Children viewed as vulnerable may be brought to medical attention more frequently. We examined subsequent hospitalizations and physician visits during a 6- to 7 1/2-year period for a group of children who had participated in a case-control study of initial febrile seizures. METHODS: Individual data from a regional cohort of 75 children with a first febrile seizure and 150 febrile and 150 afebrile controls were linked to 2 comprehensive provincial health services databases-a hospital admissions/ separations database and a physician services database. RESULTS: Linkage was achieved for 98% of the study cohort, with heath care utilization data for 6 to 7 1/2 years available for 96%. Children with febrile seizures had nearly identical rates of subsequent hospitalization compared with age-matched controls (chi2 test, P = .88). An excess of day-surgery visits for primarily otolaryngologic procedures was seen for the febrile seizure patients 0 to 12 months after their initial febrile seizure (chi2 test, P < .001). During the next 6 to 7 1/2 years, the febrile seizure patients had nearly identical rates of physician visits (chi2 test, P = .15); however, they had more visits to otolaryngologists in the first 3 to 9 months after the febrile seizure (chi2 test, P < .001), but fewer visits to pediatricians during the next 1 to 4 years (chi2 test, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with febrile seizures have nearly identical rates of hospital and physician services utilization compared with controls. This supports the hypothesis that febrile seizures are benign, and that parents recover from their initial anxiety and do not consider their children vulnerable to additional illness in the years that follow.     

咪哒唑仑与地西泮治疗小儿急性惊厥的对照研究

目的：比较咪哒唑仑（MDL）与地西泮（DZP）治疗小儿急性惊厥的疗效,探讨小儿急性惊厥安全、高效的治疗方法。方法：将120例急性惊厥患儿随机分为MDL组(60例)和DZP组(60例),分别予MDL（0.3~0.5 mg/kg）和DZP(0.5~1 mg/kg)治疗,对出现惊厥反复或呈惊厥持续状态患儿,前组给予MDL维持（每小时1~8 mg/kg）,后组给予DZP维持（每小时0.5~1 mg/kg）或联合苯巴比妥钠治疗,比较两种方法疗效。结果：全部患儿于10 min内惊厥得到基本控制,MDL组与DZP组平均控制时间差异无统计学意义。MDL组与DZP组分别有5例及13例患儿10 min后出现惊厥反复或呈惊厥持续状态。维持治疗后平均控制时间分别为40±32 min和69±24 min,差异有统计学意义 (P<0．05)。两组中无一例出现与MDL及DZP相关的副反应。结论：MDL用于治疗小儿急性惊厥安全、高效,对于惊厥反复或呈惊厥持续状态患儿,疗效优于DZP。［中国当代儿科杂志,2010,12（7）：530-532］     

Controlling seizures in the prehospital setting: Diazepam or midazolam?

OBJECTIVE: To determine which is the most effective and safe treatment for controlling seizures in children out-of-hospital: diazepam or midazolam. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of children presenting to the Emergency Department of the Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW-ED) with seizures requiring treatment in the field by paramedics was carried out over a 4-year period (April 1996 to March 2000). In New South Wales, children with seizures in the prehospital setting received 0.5 mg/kg per rectum (p.r.) or 0.1 mg/kg i.v. diazepam until March 1998 and from March 1997 onwards they received 0.15 mg/kg i.m. or 0.1 mg/kg i.v. midazolam. The main outcome measured was cessation of seizure in the prehospital setting. Secondary outcomes were time taken to initiate treatment and the frequency of cardiorespiratory compromise. RESULTS: Over the 4-year period, 2566 children presented to CHW-ED with a seizure; 107 children were eligible for entry into the present study. Of these 107 patients, 62 received diazepam and 45 received midazolam. Thirty-one (50.0%) in the diazepam group and 15 (33.3%) in the midazolam group were febrile seizures. Both groups were similar in terms of demographics and seizure type. A comparison of diazepam with midazolam showed that both drugs were effective in stopping seizures within 5 min of drug administration (37.1% cf. 51.1%). Fewer patients in the midazolam group suffered apnoea (20.0% cf. 29.0%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Midazolam controls seizures as effectively as diazepam in the prehospital setting. Furthermore, midazolam potentially reduces respiratory depression and time to treatment.     

Prophylactic Treatment with Valproic Acid or Diazepam in Children with Febrile Convulsions

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to limit prophylactic treatment of children with febrile convulsions to patients who have the highest risk of recurrence. Two hundred and thirty-one children with a first febrile seizure were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to estimated risk of recurrence. All high-risk children were offered treatment with valproic acid. If this was declined they were offered treatment with diazepam instead. Low-risk children were untreated. Valproic acid and diazepam were found to be equally effective in reducing the risk of recurrence of febrile convulsions. By selecting for prophylactic treatment according to estimated risk of recurrence it is possible to reduce the rate of recurrence of febrile seizures in children at high-risk (60%) to the same level as that of untreated low-risk children (23%). Only about half of all children with febrile convulsions need treatment and follow-up according to these criteria.     

Intramuscular midazolam vs intravenous diazepam for acute seizures

Objective : To determine effectiveness of intramuscular midazolam to control acute seizures in children as compared to intravenous diazepam.Methods: 115 children in the age group of 1 month to 12 years who presented with acute convulsions were enrolled in the study. Patients who already had an intravenous access present were treated intravenous diazepam. Patients without an IV access at the time of convulsions were randomised into 2 groups and treated with either intramuscular midazolam or intravenous diazepam for control of seizures. Time interval from administration of drug to cessation of seizures was compared. Effectiveness of IM midazolam in various age groups, types of convulsions and etiology of convulsions was analyzed. Side effects of both drugs were evaluated.Results: the mean interval to cessation of convulsions with IM midazolam was 97.22 seconds whereas in diazepam group without prior IV access it was 250.35 seconds and in diazepam group with prior IV access it was 119.4 seconds. IM midazolam acted faster in all age groups and in patients with febrile convulsions, which was statistically significant. IM midazolam was equally effective in various types of convulsions be it GTC or focal convulsions. 7 patients (10.8%) had thrombophlebitis associated with IV diazepam administration whereas none of the patients in the midazolam group had any side effects, which was statistically significant.Conclusion: IM midazolam is an effective agent for controlling acute convulsions in children especially in children with febrile convulsions. It has relatively no side effects as compared to Intravenous diazepam and can be used as a first line agent for treatment of acute convulsions in patients with difficult intravenous access.     

Prophylactic treatment with valproic acid or diazepam in children with febrile convulsions

The purpose of this study was to limit prophylactic treatment of children with febrile convulsions to patients who have the highest risk of recurrence. Two hundred and thirty-one children with a first febrile seizure were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to estimated risk of recurrence. All high-risk children were offered treatment with valproic acid. If this was declined they were offered treatment with diazepam instead. Low-risk children were untreated. Valproic acid and diazepam were found to be equally effective in reducing the risk of recurrence of febrile convulsions. By selecting for prophylactic treatment according to estimated risk of recurrence it is possible to reduce the rate of recurrence of febrile seizures in children at high-risk (60%) to the same level as that of untreated low-risk children (23%). Only about half of all children with febrile convulsions need treatment and follow-up according to these criteria.     

Predictors of febrile seizure: a matched case-control study

In a prospective matched case-control study carried out to determine risk factors of febrile seizures among children in the United Arab Emirates, 84 patients with febrile seizure were identified and were matched with 84 control febrile patients without seizure in the same age range, who attended the same hospital during the same period of time. Logistic regression analysis showed that the age at first seizure, family history of febrile seizure, duration of fever, and height of temperature were the only significant predictors for febrile seizures.     

Serum zinc levels in children with simple febrile seizure

A prospective case-control study was conducted in a major tertiary care hospital for children during June 2005 to May 2006 on children aged between 3 months and 5 years to compare serum zinc levels in 38 cases of simple febrile seizure and 38 age-matched controls. The mean serum zinc levels in cases and controls were 32.17 and 87.6 microg/dL, respectively. This difference was statistically significant ( P < .001). We conclude that Indian children with febrile seizure had low serum zinc levels, and zinc supplementation to reduce the incidence of febrile seizure should be investigated.     

Accidental epileptic seizures in children

The authors report a series of 71 children admitted to a general pediatric hospital for a first non febrile, non symptomatic seizure and observed for an average of 6 years and 5 months. Among these patients, 19 cases corresponded to an isolated unexplained seizure without paroxysmal E.E.G. abnormalities, which did not reappear without treatment in a mean follow-up period fo 5 years and 3 months. The typical features of these "accidental seizures" are compared with other types of epilepsy. Finally, these "accidental seizures" can be classified into 2 groups: atonic seizures in the young child (1-4 years) and partial seizures in older children. A statistical analysis was undertaken to define the risk factors for recurrence after the first epileptic attack. A low recurrence risk is expected for children between 1 to 4 years with atonic type of seizures without paroxysmal E.E.G. abnormalities while there is a high recurrence risk for children under 1 year with generalized seizures and paroxysmal E.E.G. intercritical abnormalities.     

Evaluating and treating the child with a febrile seizure

Approximately 3% to 5% of children will experience a febrile seizure before the age of 5 years, with the peak onset in the second year of life. The majority of these seizures are “simple” (generalized, lasting less than 15 minutes, occurring only once in a 24-hour period), carry few risks of complications, and have excellent short- and long-term prognoses. Children with complex febrile seizures (focal features, lasting more than 15 minutes, occuring more than once in a 24-hour period) have higher rates of coexisting problems (electrolyte (disturbances and meningitis) and are at greater risk of recurrence and epilepsy than their counterparts With simple febrile seizures. A bacterial source for the fever is rarely found; a combination of host susceptibility in concert with viral trigger is believed to he responsible. Routine “screening tests” are unnecessary, and evaluation should be directed by the results of individual history and physical examination. Antipyretics have not been shown to decrease the incidence of recurrence in susceptible children. Oral and rectal diazepam have been shown to decrease recurrent seizures only in a select subset of children at high risk for recurrence.     

Febrile seizures.

Febrile seizures are the most frequent of seizure disorders in childhood. Febrile seizures are most common in children between 6 months and 3 years of age, with a peak incidence at about 18 months. Approximately 30% to 40% of children who experience a febrile seizure will have a recurrence. The majority of febrile seizures occur within 24 hours of the onset of the fever. Febrile seizures can be simple or complex. Diagnostic studies are usually not necessary. Febrile seizures usually are self-limited, and intervention to stop the seizure often is unnecessary. When possible, the cause of the fever should be treated. Continuous preventative anticonvulsant therapy is not recommended for children with either simple or complex febrile seizures. The use of intermittent anticonvulsant therapy is not routinely indicated. Parental educational and counseling is important. The prognosis is excellent.     

咪达唑仑鼻腔给药治疗热性惊厥的临床研究

目的 探讨咪达唑仑溶液鼻腔给药对热性惊厥急救的的有效性及安全性.方法 对我院就诊36例热性惊厥儿童随机分成两组,研究组给予咪达唑仑0.2～0.3 mg/kg鼻腔内滴入,以安定0.2～0.3 mg/kg静脉注射给药为对照给,观察开始治疗时间、用药后控制发作时间、自患儿到达医院至发作控制的总时间、在控制惊厥方面的疗效及不良反应等指标.结果 在控制惊厥效果鼻腔内滴入咪达唑仑与静脉注射安定相同.在入院至开始治疗时间鼻腔内滴入咪达唑仑组为[(35.8±4.3)s],明显低于静脉注射安定组[(82.2±16.5)s],差异有显著性(P<0.05);用药控制时间鼻腔内滴入咪达唑仑组为[(162.4±15.6)s],与静脉注射安定组[(164.7±16.8)s]相比,差异无显著性;从入院至控制惊厥总时间上,鼻腔内滴入咪达唑仑组为[(209.2±26.1)s],明显低于静脉注射安定组[(339.6±42.4)s],差异有显著性(P<0.05).两组通过监测心率、呼吸、血压均未发现任何不良反应.结论 咪达唑仑溶液鼻腔给药使用方便,是一种安全、更为快速、有效的治疗热性惊厥的方法.     

轻度胃肠炎伴婴幼儿良性惊厥在婴幼儿急性腹泻伴惊厥疾病谱中的地位及意义

目的探讨轻度胃肠炎伴婴幼儿良性惊厥(BICE)在婴幼儿急性腹泻伴惊厥疾病谱中的地位及意义。方法对2009-2011年收治的急性腹泻并有惊厥症状患儿的住院资料进行回顾性分析。结果 184例急性腹泻伴惊厥的病例中,轻度胃肠炎伴婴幼儿良性惊厥58例、热性惊厥49例、癫癎43例、病毒性脑炎19例、低钠性脑病6例、高钠性脑病5例、中毒性脑病2例、低钙惊厥2例。BICE患儿年龄为(17.47±7.90)个月,全身症状轻,脱水轻或无,惊厥多呈全面性强直或强直阵挛发作,发作持续时间短,多发生在病程前2 d;轮状病毒阳性率为65.52%;血常规、生化、脑脊液、CT/MRI、脑电图等无明显异常。BICE患儿入院后予补液治疗,在首次惊厥后给予肌注苯巴比妥,住院过程惊厥再发者立即静脉注射地西泮,均住院2～5 d治愈出院。结论 BICE为婴幼儿急性腹泻伴惊厥中的常见疾病,临床应以对症治疗为主,应避免不必要的检查和过度药物治疗。