[Phenobarbital in febrile convulsions of children (author's transl)].

Phenobarbital (Luminal) was given to 41 children (aged 11 months to 4 1/2 years) with uncomplicated febrile convulsions. The drug was administered orally or intramuscularly at an initial dose of 10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg, respectively. Twelve hours later and then every 24 hours until the fever had subsided the dosage was 5 mg/kg orally or intramuscularly. The effective serum phenobarbital level of 15 micrograms/ml was reached with an oral dose of 10 and 15 mg/kg after 25 hours or 90 minutes, respectively, with an intramuscular injection at the same dose after 12 hours and 40 minutes, respectively. These results indicate that the initial dose of phenobarbital in the prevention of further febrile convulsions in children should be 15 mg/kg intramuscularly. Treatment can then be continued orally with 5 mg/kg.