The child with a 'simple' febrile seizure. Appropriate diagnostic evaluation
M. A. Gerber and B. C. Berliner
Febrile seizures are a common pediatric problem, yet there is a great deal
of disagreement about the appropriate diagnostic evaluation of a child with
this disorder. We reviewed the routine diagnostic tests performed on 100
consecutive children admitted with their first "simple" febrile seizure.
The studies performed included lumbar puncture, measurement of blood
glucose, serum calcium, serum electrolytes, and BUN levels, blood cell
count, urinalysis, skull roentgenograms, and EEG. Though resulting in a
significant expense, these routine investigations proved to be of little
diagnostic value. Based on this experience and a review of the current
literature, we concluded that diagnostic procedures should be performed
only when specifically called for by the patient's condition or medical
history.
