Acetaminophen and Febrile Seizures Revisited

Investigators from multiple institutions in Osaka, Japan, conducted a randomized trial to assess the effectiveness of rectal acetaminophen in reducing seizure recurrence during the same episode of fever in children with a febrile seizure (FS). For the study, children presenting to the ED at Hirakata City Hospital with FS were eligible for participation. Those with >2 FSs during the current fever episode were excluded, as were patients with seizure lasting >15 minutes, those with chronic neurologic conditions, and children who had been administered rectal diazepam or had taken antihistamines. In addition, children with diarrhea were also not enrolled because of the difficulty in administering rectal acetaminophen. FS was defined as a seizure accompanied by a temperature >38.0°C in a child 6–60 months old who …