Febrile convalsions: The role played by paraclinical evaluation

ObjectiveThis survey evaluates the necessity of biochemical and imaging findingsfor patients with initial diagnosis of febrile convulsion, and also aimsat determining the degree to which results of paraclinical examinationsdelineate management of patients.Materials & MethodsData of 302 patients referred to Mofid Children Hospital during twoyears (2005-2006) for febrile convulsions (FC), were collected in formattedquestionnaires and analyzed.ResultsAbnormal lumbar punctures were reported in 9 patients, 3 of which hadbacterial meningitis (1%). Biochemical tests including sodium, potassium,calcium, urea and glucose measurement, were performed for 289 (of 302patients); of these 289, 9 cases were reported with hyponatremia, one casewith hypokalemia and one case with hypocalcemia. Brain CT was donein 51 cases and the results were abnormal in 4%, included a patient withstatus epilepticus.ConclusionConsidering the results obtained from data, we suggest that most of theparaclinical examinations are not needed for Febrile Convulsions (FC), forsimple FC, in particular.