Description

Sadleir and Scheffer listed criteria for when a primary care provider should refer a child with febrile seizures for evaluation. The authors are from the University of Otago in New Zealand and University of Melbourne in Australia.


 

Reasons related to causation:

(1) meningitis is possible

(2) no apparent cause for the fever

 

Reasons related to seizures:

(1) no fever is present (i.e, nonfebrile)

(2) complex seizure pattern

(3) prolonged recovery afterwards

 

Reasons related to family:

(1) poor psychosocial setting

(2) parents need more support and instruction

 

Where to refer depends on the child's condition:

(1) if meningitis is a consideration, then the child should be taken to the Emergency Department.

(2) if parental support is the sole reason, then referral to a specialist is appropriate.

 


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