In an open, prospective, randomized, and hospital‐based study, comprising 219 consecutive children, 169 were given intermittent prophylaxis for one year, receiving either diazepam or valproic acid after their first febrile convulsion. Children admitted on odd dates (n = 89) were given rectal diazepam in solution every 12 h, whenever the temperature was 38.5° or more. Children admitted on even dates (n = 80) were given valproic acid as suppositories at times of fever. Twenty‐three children in the diazepam group had a recurrence within 1 year versus 14 in the valproic acid group. On an intention‐to‐treat basis the 12‐month recurrence rates in the 2 groups were similar, 27%vs 20%. The latter is well below figures for untreated controls from Denmark (32%), suggesting that intermittent valproic acid at times of fever may be effective, but further studies are needed. The number of complex recurrences, however, were significantly higher in the valproic acid group than in the diazepam group. Parental non‐compliance was a major problem, and in the 2 study groups only 5 and 12 children, respectively, with recurrences were treated adequately. Sixty‐nine children receiving diazepam had side‐effects vs 37 receiving valproic acid. None were serious.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.