The relationship between drug treatment and the clinical characteristics of febrile seizures

• Published in: World journal of pediatrics : WJP Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 202 - 205
• Main Authors: Haruyama, Wakako, Fuchigami, Tatsuo, Noguchi, Yukio, Endo, Ayumi, Hashimoto, Koji, Inamo, Yasuji, Fujita, Yukihiko, Takahashi, Shigeru, Mugishima, Hideo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.08.2008
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Contraindications; Critical Care Medicine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Imaging; Infant; Intensive; Male; Maternal and Child Health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Phenothiazines; Radiology; Retrospective Studies; Seizures, Febrile - chemically induced; Surgery; Theophylline; Time Factors; mequitazine; antihistamine; theophylline; febrile seizures
• ISSN: 1708-8569
• DOI: 10.1007/s12519-008-0037-3

Background Drugs such as theophylline, antihistamines, and antiallergics with anti-histaminic actions have been shown to induce febrile seizures. The relationship between febrile seizures and medications has not been actively investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the clinical characteristics of febrile seizures and the use of medications. Methods Two hundred and sixty-five children treated at our emergency room due to febrile seizures were studied to investigate the relationship between the clinical characteristics of febrile seizures, such as the type and duration of convulsions, and the drug treatment. Results The duration of convulsions was longer among children who took theophylline and antihistamines than among children who did not take these medications. Of the antihistamines, mequitazine did not prolong the duration of convulsion. Conclusions Theophylline should not be used in febrile children, particularly infants. Cautions should be taken in using histamine H1 antagonists in young infants because such drugs could potentially disturb the anticonvulsive central histaminergic system. However, mequitazine appears to be a suitable antihistamine for use in children with febrile seizures, since it does not prolong convulsions.