ANTIPYRETIC EFFECTIVENESS OF ACETAMINOPHEN IN FEBRILE SEIZURES - ONGOING PROPHYLAXIS VERSUS SPORADIC USAGE

A controlled clinical study compared the antipyretic effectiveness of acetaminophen administered at regular 4 h intervals (group 1, n = 53) versus sproadic usage contingent upon a body temperature above 37.9-de grees-C (group 2, n = 51) in 104 children presenting with simple febri le convulsions. The incidence of febrile episodes or temperature value s were similar in spite of significantly larger amounts of acetaminoph en administered to patients in group 1. Four and 4 children in groups 1 and 2, respectively, had a second episode of febrile seizures, in al l of them within the first 24 h of admission. We conclude that the pro phylactic administration of acetaminophen in children with febrile sei zures is not effective in the prevention of fever, the reduction of it s degree, or in preventing the early recurrence of febrile seizures.