The initial hospital management of childhood febrile convulsions: an audit.

The records of 100 children admitted to hospital with a febrile convulsion during the years 1988-91 were studied. There were 295 investigations performed overall and all but one child had paracetamol prescribed during the hospital stay. Twenty-three per cent of the group received an antibiotic and 43% were discharged still receiving an antipyretic. Anticonvulsants were not widely used. The need for antipyretic use, the number of investigations performed and the need for children to be admitted overnight in the first instance is questioned.