Child with Fever and Seizure
at what is age should be performed and considered to do Lumbar Puncture?
- Should be: all infants <6 month of age who present with fever and seizure unless contraindicated - Considered: <12 months old especially if child has not received Hib and pneumococcal immunization or for whom immunization status is unknown
what is the treatment of bacterial meningitis?
C. penicillin + Cefotaxime - Ceftriaxone gives more rapid CSF sterilization as compared to Cefotaxime or Cefuroxime
clinical features of encephalitis
Fever Headache Sore throat Abdominal complaints - cognitive dysfuntion ( acute memory loss) - behavioral changes ( hallucinations, psychosis) - cranial nerve abnormalities ( oculomotor and facial nerve)
What is the clinical approach in febrile seizure?
Hx: - Hx of febrile seizure - age of patient - Hx of developmental delay - seizure ( duration, characteristics)
Etiology of bacterial meningitis?
Neonatal to 3 months: - group b streptoccocci - E.coli 1 month to 6 years: - Neisseria meningitides - Haemophilus influenza >6 years: - Neisseria meningitidis - Strep pneumoniae
clinical features of bacterial meningitis
Neonates: Fever Poor feeding Seizures Bulging fontanelle Infants: Fever Tachycardia Bulging fontanelle Older child: Headaches Neck stiffness Photophobia Fever
differentiate between simple and complex febrile seizure
Simple febrile seizure: Duration : <15 minutes Generalised tonic-clonic seizure Does not recur during the febrile episode (within 24 hour) Complex febrile seizure: - greater than 15 min - >1 seizure during the febrile episode - elicit neurological deficit
what is bacterial meningitis?
inflammation of the meninges covering the brain. (Confirmed: white blood cells in CSF)
What is a febrile seizure?
- a seizure that occur in association with fever (>38°C) with no evidence of intracranial pathology or metabolic derangement in - children between 3 months and 6 years of age. - temperature rises rapidly.
DD of encephalitis
- acute hypoglycemia - leptospirosis - meningitis - status epilepticus
medications of encephalitis
- acyclovir & foscarnet ( to shorten clinical course , prevent complication) - dexamethasone ( treatment of postinfectious encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalitis.) - furosemide (hydrocephalus and increase intracranial pressure (ICP)) - lorazepam (to treat seizures associated with encephalitis)
What are the risk factors for recurrent febrile seizure
- family history of febrile seizures - age less than 18 months - Brief duration <1hr between onset of fever and seizure
Clinical features of febrile seizure?
- fever (>38C) - children between 6 months to 5 years - develop in first 24 hours of illness - Absence of CNS infection
what is the aetiology of encephalitis?
- human herpes simplex virus - influenza A - MMR - retrovirus
What is encephalitis?
- inflammatory process of the brain parenchyma leading to cerebral dysfunction. - caused by 2 mechanisms: - direct infection - apparent immune-mediated response
what is he pathophysiology of febrile seizure?
- occur on young children where their seizure threshold is low. - susceptible to frequent childhood infections such as upper respiratory infection, otitis media, viral syndrome - Endogenous pyrogens, such as interleukin 1beta, that, by increasing neuronal excitability, may link fever and seizure activity - Cytokine network is activated and may have a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures
what is the complication of BM
- subdural effusion - cerebral edema - prolonged fever