Seizures Flashcards
How would you approach a child (>1month) presenting in Status Epilepticus?
ABCDE approach
Give Oxygen
Always be sure to check glucose
If vascular access has been established in a child in status epilepticus, what is the first line medication that would be given after 5 minutes of convulsing?
Lorazepam (0.1mg/kg)
If vascular access has NOT been established in a child in status epilepticus, what is the first line medication that would be given after 5 minutes of convulsing?
Midazolam (buccal) 0.5mg/kg
Diazepam (rectal) 0.5mg/kg
What is the 2nd line medication that can be given to children who are still convulsing after 10 minutes?
Lorazepam 0.1mg/kg
If a child is still convulsing after 10 minutes, what is the action you must take (if not done so already as an FY1)?
Call for senior help immediately
If the patient is still fitting in status epilepticus after step 1 and 2 have been administered and it has been ongoing for >10minutes, what medication options do you have?
- If the patient is not on phenytoin give phenytoin 20mg/kg
- If the patient is on phenytoin, given phenobarbitone 20mg/kg
AT THIS POINT ICU/ANAESTHETIST INPUT IS MANDATORY
What are the differential diagnoses of a child with a seizure, having received treatment and still has a reduced level of consciousness?
- Febrile seizures
- Encephalopathy
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis
- Post-ictal phase
- Sepsis/shock
- Brian tumour
- Epilepsy
- Metabolic disorder
- Poisining
- Intoxication
- NAI
What questions do we need to ask a parent/guardian/carer about a child who has had a seizure about; things prior to the episode?
- Any change in behaviour?
- Health that day?
- When did it happen?
- Where did it happen?
- Activity when the seizure began?
- Any complaints from the child before; headache, vision, fever, sweaty, lightheaded?
- Trigger they can think of?
- Time of last meal?
- Have they taken drugs/unusual substance?
What questions do we need to ask a parent/guardian/carer about a child who has had a seizure about; what happened during the episode?
- Onset - was it sudden?
- Responsiveness of the child
- Awareness
- Symmetrical seizure?
- Facial movements?
- Eye movements?
- Posturing
- Motor movements
- Clonic/myoclonic/tonic
- Breathing changes
- Incontinence
- Autonomic
- Visual disturbances
- Duration of the seizure
What questions do we need to ask a parent/guardian/carer about a child who has had a seizure about; the period after the seizure?
- Were they sleepy/disorientated?
- Nauseous/vomited
- Amnesia
- Strange behaviour
- Weakness
- Injuries to the tongue
- Time to recover
What questions do we need to ask a parent/guardian/carer about a child who has had a seizure about; recent illnesses?
- FEVER
- Infective signs (all systems)
- Weight loss
- Recent headaches
- Head trauma/injury
- Personality change
- Poor co-ordination
- New weakness
How would you define ‘Simple Febrile Seizure’?
A short generalised seizure last less than 15 minutes, not recurring in 24 hours occurring during a febrile episode (temp over 38). This is not caused by an acute disease of the nervous system and not present with neurological deficits. Only in children aged 6 months to 5 years.
How would you define a ‘Complex Febrile Seizure’?
A focal, or generalised and prolonged seizure of duration greater than 15 minutes recurring more than once in a 24 hour period. This is associated with postictal neurological abnormalities and more frequently Todd’s Palsy (temporary paralysis).
What 3 signs would indicate an urgent CT/MRI head in a child?
- Encephalopathic or coma
- Suspected raised ICP
- Progressive neurological deficit
What 5 signs/characteristics would suggest the need for an elective MRI in a child presenting with seizures?
- In a child under 2 years of age at onset
- Hard focal neurological signs
- Focal epilepsy
- Associated significant learning difficulties
- Epilepsy resistant to full doses of 2 appropriate drugs