FEBRILE SEIZURE AND THE EFFICACY OF DIAZEPAM IN CONTROLLING RECURRENCE OF FEBRILE SEIZURES IN CHILDREN: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Blessy Joy, *Dongchi Zhao, Jojo George Joseph and Sulfath Pottanpulan

ABSTRACT

Febrile seizures are a benign condition classically associated with high fever in children during their early lives. It occurs between 6 months to 6 years of age, in the setting of an acute febrile illness, without previous afebrile seizures, significant prior neurological abnormality and no CNS infection. Febrile seizures can be classified as simple and complex febrile seizures. The prognosis of febrile seizure is good for most of the patients though it can be tiresome for children as well as for parents. The prevention of febrile seizure is highly desirable. Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that has been used widely in the management of epilepsy and other convulsive disorders for the past four decades and controls seizures in 60 –80 % of the cases. An overview of febrile seizures and the efficacy of diazepam in controlling recurrent febrile seizures, and its adverse effects has been overviewed in this article by comparing various literature studies. Conclusion: Though febrile seizure is a benign condition, it is highly desirable to prevent recurrent episodes inorder to prevent consequences associated with it. Diazepam is safe and effective in controlling acute febrile seizure recurrences in children with minimal side effects.

Keywords: Febrile seizure, diazepam, children, benzodiazepines, recurrence, epilepsy.