Do antipyretics prevent febrile seizures?

Von Esch et al. Ambulatory Child Health 2000;6: 19-26.

 

3 part question:In children who have experienced a febrile seizure (patient): does prescribing antipyretics (intervention) reduce recurrence of febrile seizures (outcome)?

 

Search terms: All EBM reviews � Cochrane Library and DARE �, Prodigy, Evidence Based Clinical guidance, and Pubmed and Medline (Ovid): Febrile convulsions/ seizures (FS) and antipyretics, paracetamol, and ibuprofen

 

Patients key clinical characteristics: children (aged 10 and 36 months) who presented with an episode of simple febrile seizures

 

Control regimens: After their febrile seizures, a group of children (n=109) were given treatment with ibuprofen or paracetamol during fever. A second group of children (n=103) were offered no antipyretic treatment.

 

Study features controlled trial, not randomised

 

Evidence summary: The children were seen on a scheduled follow-up visit 1 to 3 months after the initial seizure. Follow-up time was 2 years.

 

Clinical bottom line: Antipyretic treatment may have little or no preventive effect on the recurrence of FS.

 

Citation:Van Esch A, Steyerberg EW, Moll HA et al. A study of the efficacy of antipyretic drugs in the prevention of febrile seizure recurrence. Ambulatory Child Health 2000; 6:19-26.

 

Contact Details: A. Sahib El-Radhi, Consultant Paediatrician, Queen Mary�s Hospital, Sidcup.
Email: sahib.el-radhi@qms.nhs.uk