References
Management of febrile convulsions within the pre-hospital environment
Abstract
Febrile convulsions are relatively common presentations to the ambulance service and occur in 2–5% of the population. A febrile convulsion is a convulsion associated with a temperature above 38oC in paediatrics aged between six months to six years with peak occurrence at 18 months of age. The majority of febrile convulsions (70%) are classed as simple febrile convulsions which are limited in duration with no long-term neurological impact on the child. These simple febrile convulsions can be safely managed within the community in many cases except where it is their first febrile convulsion, aged under 18 months old, are already on antibiotics or there is no obvious cause of infection resulting in the convulsion. The risk of a febrile convulsion being the sole indicator of epilepsy is extremely low.
Febrile children are a common presentation to health-care services with febrile convulsions being a relatively frequent call to the ambulance service. Traditionally paramedics have felt less comfortable in the assessment and management of paediatrics, especially in nonconveyances and discharging on scene.
Febrile convulsions are convulsions occurring in children aged six months to six years presenting with a fever above 38oC but without any signs of central nervous system infection (AAoP, 2011). Most commonly they occur between six months and three years of age with a peak occurrence of 18 months (Paul et al, 2015). Any diagnosis of a febrile convulsion made in a child aged over six years old should be made with extreme caution. Febrile convulsions are the most common cause of convulsion within paediatrics (Paul et al, 2012).
Febrile convulsions occur within all ethnicities; within the Caucasian population 2–5% of children will suffer from a febrile convulsion. Other ethnic groups have an increased risk compared to Caucasians with 5–10% of Indian children and 14% of children from Guam suffering febrile convulsions (Paul et al, 2015).
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