EPILEPSY IN CHILDREN

Question 1

What are febrile convulsions?

Answer 1

• Seizures/ fits as a result of a fever/hyperthermia
• Typically in ages 6 months to 3 years old
• Lasts under 5 minutes (may take child 10-15 minutes to wake up after seizure)

Question 2

Signs/symptoms of febrile convulsions

Answer 2

1. Arms and legs twitching/jerking
2. Loss of consciousness
3. Foaming of the mouth
4. The skin turns pale/blue

Question 3

Are febrile convulsions an epileptic disorder?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

How to treat

Answer 4

• Protect baby from injury
• Reduce temperature (take clothes off them)
• After the seizure subsides, hold them on their side and tilt
  their head
• Do NOT use antipyretics e.g. paracetamol/ ibuprofen

Question 5

Should you, as a pharmacist, recommend Calpol (paracetamol) or
Nurofen (ibuprofen)
for the treatment of febrile convulsions?

Answer 5

NO!
“Antipyretic agents do not prevent febrile convulsions and should not be used specifically for this purpose.”

Question 6

What do you do if febrile convulsion lasts for more than 5 minutes or that there is no recovery in between febrile convulsions?

Answer 6

Treat as SE

Question 7

What two epileptic children conditions should you be aware of?

Answer 7

1. Dravet’s syndrome
   - Often confused with febrile convulsions as it is caused by high temperature
   - Seizures last longer than typical febrile convulsions
   And
2. Lennox-Gastault syndrome

Question 8

Treatment for Dravet’s syndrome

Answer 8

1. SV
   - Caution in women of
   childbearing age
2. If unsuccessful, consider triple therapy:
   - Sodium valproate +
   Clobazam + Stiripentol

Question 9

Treatment for Lennox-Gastault syndrome

Answer 9

1. SV
   - Caution in women of childbearing age
2. Lamotrigine monotherapy or in +