Use of rectal diazepam administration for control of epileptic seizures in children. A multicenter study

The purpose of this multicentre study of an unselected group of 178 children with prolonged convulsions or status epilepticus was to evaluate the effects of rectal administration of Diazepam by means of a rectal appliance. We found that diazepam is effective against seizures in 98% of cases, has a rapid onset of action and is safe. We recommend this form of treatment at all levels of medical care and also for use by parents or other care givers.     

Rectal administration of diazepam in solution in the acute treatment of convulsions in infants and children.

In a prospective study 44 children, aged 6 months to 5 years, admitted to hospital with febrile convulsions or epilepsy, were treated with diazepam in solution administered rectally during 59 generalised attacks. Rectal administration of diazepam was effective in the acute treatment of convulsions in 80% of cases. In 10% the treatment failed, whereas diazepam administered intravenously had prompt effect; another 10% of the convulsions wer resistant to diazepam, irrespective of the route of administration. The therapeutic effect was significantly correlated with the duration of convulsions before treatment started. Early treatment (convulsions less than or equal to 15 minutes) had effect in 96%, and late treatment (convulsions greater than 15 minutes) in 57% of cases. A total of 317 children admitted with febrile convulsions were treated prophylactically with diazepam administered rectally whenever the temperature was greater than or equal to 38.5 degrees C. No case of significant respiratory depression or other serious side effects was observed. The rapid and reliable anticonvulsant effect of diazepam given rectally and the very few side effects makes this treatment a valuable alternative to IV administration in childhood.     

Rectal paracetamol in small children with fever.

37 febrile children aged between 3 months and 6 years were treated with paracetamol in a dose of 15--20 mg/kg by either oral elixir or rectal suppository. The rectal route was found to have an equal antipyretic effect and offers a practical alternative in those children for whom the oral route is not possible.20     

Rectal bleeding in children

Summary Forty-two cases of bleeding per rectum in children seen during a three-year period are reviewed. Different causes of bleeding, their symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment are given. With proper methods, cases can be correctly diagnosed and adequately treated. From the G. T. Hospital, Bhatia General Hospital and Grant Medical College, Bombay.     

Recovery of consciousness after epileptic seizures in children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the duration of postictal impairment of consciousness and the factors that affect it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 90 children aged 1-16 years (37 male, 53 female, median age 6 years), attending the accident and emergency department, and inpatients of Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK, who had experienced seizures involving impairment of consciousness. Interventions-hourly modified paediatric coma scores were determined, until a coma score of 15 was obtained. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing recovery time. RESULTS: 49 children were excluded owing to incomplete coma scoring, lost notes and refusal of consent. Median time for full recovery of consciousness was 38 min (0.63 h, range 0.05-17 h). Median recovery time was 18 min (0.3 h, range 0.05-9 h) from febrile seizures, which was significantly shorter than for seizures of other aetiologies (p<0.05), 1.35 h (range 0.07-13.13 h) from idiopathic seizures, 1.25 h (0.07-12.1 h) from remote symptomatic seizures and 4.57 h (0.25-17 h) from acute symptomatic seizures. Median recovery time after the use of benzodiazepines was 3.46 h (range 0.08-14.25 h), and was significantly longer (p<0.05) than for seizures not treated with benzodiazepines (median 0.47 h, range 0.05-17 h). Age, sex, seizure type and duration did not significantly affect recovery time. CONCLUSIONS: Most children experiencing febrile seizures recover within 30 min. An acute symptomatic aetiology should be considered if recovery takes >1 h.     

癫痫患儿的心理障碍和心理干预的效果

目的 了解癫痫患儿的心理障碍情况,研究对其心理干预的效果。方法 应用癫痫生活质量量表,对２０６例癫痫患儿的心理状态进行评估,在抗癫痫药物治疗的同时,以多种心理咨询方式对患儿进行心理干预。结果 ７０．８％的患儿存在不同程度的心理障碍,２０６例患儿中对发作担忧者１４６例（７０．９％）,对生活不满意者１４１例（６８．５％）,情绪抑郁者１７８例（８６．４％）,精力状态不佳者１７２例（８３．５％）,自感认知     

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.     

Rectal diazepam solution in the treatment of convulsions in the children's emergency room

Rectal diazepam solution was administered to 55 convulsing children in the Children's Emergency Room. In 71%, the convulsion ceased within 5 min, and in 7%, between 5 and 10 min. In 16%, rectal diazepam was ineffective but there was a rapid response to intravenous diazepam. Convulsions that had lasted less than 15 min before treatment responded more often (81%) than those that had lasted more than 15 min (46%). Four children had transient respiratory depression. Though intravenous diazepam is superior, rectal diazepam solution is adequate for controlling most acute convulsions in children, and has the advantage that it can be administered by paramedical workers.     

脑电图检查对小儿癫癎的诊断价值

癫的本质是阵发性脑电活动异常 ,其基础是神经元离子通道、神经递质和受体功能异常及异常微神经环路的形成导致异常超同步化放电 ,与脑结构异常没有必然关系。因此脑电图 (EEG)是癫诊断最重要的检查手段。特别是近年来脑电监测技术 (便携式 2 4h脑电监测、录像脑电监测等 )广泛应用 ,更进一步提供癫诊断的可靠性。神经影像学主要用于寻找癫的病因和辅助局灶性癫的定位 ,但不能作为癫诊断的依据。Cragar等曾比较病史、发作症状、诱发试验、血清泌乳素水平、录像EEG、SPECT、心理试验、神经心理学测试等方法对癫诊断的价值…     

Rectal bleeding in Egyptian children

AIM: In a prospective study to outline the aetiology of bleeding per rectum (BPR) in Egyptian infants and children, a subsidiary aim was to define some of the clinical characteristics of the different aetiologies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 194 children with BPR are described. The diagnostic work-up included laboratory investigations, radiological and endoscopic assessment, radio-isotope scanning, angiography and histopathological examination of mucosal biopsies, as appropriate. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 3 to 192 months with a mean (SD) of 49.8 (43.5). Infectious enterocolitis was the most common cause (37.1%). Others included colorectal polyps (21.1%), chronic colitis (16%) including inflammatory bowel diseases (5.2%), allergic colitis (2.6%), solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (1.5%) and non-specific colitis (6.7%). Intussusception and Meckel's diverticulae were the cause in 7.3% and 2.6%, respectively, while other aetiologies included vascular (6.2%), systemic (3.6%), local anal (3.1%) and upper gastro-intestinal causes (1.5%). In 1.5% of cases, the cause remained 'obscure'. CONCLUSION: In Egyptian children, infectious enterocolitis followed by colorectal polyps and chronic colitis are major causes of BPR.     

脑电图检查对小儿癫痫的诊断价值

癫痫的本质是阵发性脑电活动异常，其基础是神经元离子通道、神经递质和受体功能异常及异常微神经环路的形成导致异常超同步化放电，与脑结构异常没有必然关系。因此脑电图(EEG)是癫痫诊断最重要的检查手段。特别是近年来脑电监测技术(便携式24h脑电监测、录像脑电监测等)广泛应用，更进一步提供癫痫诊断的可靠性。神经影像学主要     

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in epileptic children treated with antiepileptic drugs.

AIM: To investigate the effect of prolonged use of antiepileptic drugs on renal function in children. METHODS: Prospective study of 72 children (aged 3-18 years) with epilepsy, on either monotherapy (n = 44) or combined therapy (n = 28). The length of treatment varied from 1 to 13 years. Drugs used were valproic acid, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, clonazepam, clobazepam, and vigabatrin. RESULTS: In 65 patients plasma concentrations of the drugs were in the therapeutic range. In the remaining seven, plasma concentrations were slightly high. In 33 patients urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity was raised. The incidence of pathological NAG indices was significantly higher in the combined therapy group than in the monotherapy group. There were also significant differences in the NAG indices of patients depending on the duration of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that chronic use of some antiepileptic drugs-in spite of normal blood concentrations-may alter tubular function, and the dysfunction may result in clinical symptoms. Therefore, we recommend screening of tubular function in these patients.