PARENTAL ANXIETY IN FEBRILE CONVULSIONS

Febrile convulsions can cause extreme anxiety to parents. Factors asso ciated with parental anxiety and its relief during and after admission of their child for simple febrile convulsions were studied by questio nnaire. Of the 70 parents approached 46 responded (66%), all of whom r eported feeling anxiety. Factors directly associated with parental anx iety were lack of knowledge regarding the management of seizures and t he performance of a spinal tap or EEG. There was no correlation betwee n a previous seizure in the same child or in a first-degree relative a nd a decrease in anxiety in the present seizure. Hospital admission of the child yielded no relief of anxiety in 27.3% and some relief in 34 .1%. Staff activity was insufficient regarding parental instruction in handling the child in the event of a recurrence. About two-thirds of the parents wished to continue neurologic follow-up after discharge, a nd about one-half preferred that the child be treated with anticonvuls ants. Our findings show that a very intensive effort is required to re lieve parental anxiety after febrile convulsions. It is suggested that routine parental preventive education in this area be conducted in we ll-baby clinics.