Update in current care guidelines: epilepsy and febrile seizures (children)
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 129(16): 1730-1731
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 24069643 Document Number: 667656
Suspicion of epilepsy is an indication for an urgent referral to a pediatric or child neurology care unit. Diagnosis of epilepsy is based on medical history and clinical examination, supplemented with EEG, brain imaging and laboratory tests. Antiepileptic medication is usually initiated after the second epileptic seizure. Drug choice is based on seizure type and epilepsy classification. Some children with epilepsy may benefit from ketogenic diet. Surgical treatment options should be considered in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Acute treatment for febrile seizures follows the same principles as treatment of epileptic seizures, but long-term preventive anticonvulsants are not recommended.