A Retrospective Report on Simple Febrile Seizure Management in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Katlin F. VanDerhoef, Kelly Bergmann, Rahul Kaila, Ryan Shanley, Jeffrey P. Louie- Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Objective:
To determine whether pediatric emergency medicine physicians are compliant with the 9-year-old simple febrile seizure guideline created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of patients, ages 6 to 60 months, who presented to the emergency department between May 2011 and December 2019. Key variables abstracted were urine, blood, nasal viral swab, and radiographic results.
Results:
The retrospective cohort of 285 children met inclusion criteria. Among 285 children, 342 studies were performed with a median of 1.2 studies per patient. There were 77 urine cultures obtained with 6 bacterial pathogens. Nasal viral swabs were performed on 65 children with 9 positive results. Blood cultures were obtained for 28 children and none were positive. Chest radiographs were performed on 37 children with 4 showing pneumonia.
Conclusion:
The study results reflect areas of opportunity to update guidelines with a focus to consider obtaining urine studies, viral sampling, and chest x-rays.