Febrile seizures - 2015
Febrile seizures are an age-related phenomenon. Manifestation is characterised by convulsive/cramping states typically generalised tonic-clonic seizures with the possibility of loss of consciousness, disorders of vegetative and regulatory functions. The origin of the febrile convulsions is connected with onset and initial phase of an infectious disease. Within the scope of classification we distinguish simple and complicated seizures with more serious course and consequences which can progress into serious life threatening epileptic state (lat. status epilepticus). Differential diagnostics is based on exclusion of neuroinfectious condition, convulsive states of non-infectious origin, epileptic seizures and febrile syncope.
Review
The procedure in question is a successful interactive diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm of care for a juvenile patient with prolonged complicated course of febrile seizure.
The choice of answers regarding the correct course of treatment is formally and contextually balanced and well chosen from the didactic point of view.
Authors had purposefully chosen an atypical, more severe and more complicated course of febrile seizure as a scenario to demonstrate the wider complexity of differential diagnostics and secondary examinations required.
On the other hand for clinical course of treatment in a non-complicated febrile seizure scenario it would be sufficient to consult a paediatrician and a paediatric neurologist.
Algorithm is without a doubt suitable for acquaintance of medical students with the correct procedures in critical situations, however it would be necessary to revise and complete the text if it was to be used for post-gradual educational purposes.
Sources
GOLDEMUND, Karel. Febrilní křeče. Pediatrie pro praxi. 2001, 2(4), 177-179. ISSN 1213-0494
LEBL, Jan. Klinická pediatrie. 2. vyd. Praha: Galén, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7492-131-5
