Emergency Department Over-Testing for Pediatric Febrile Seizures

In one community-based ED, children with febrile seizures frequently received unnecessary testing.

Investigators evaluated provider testing practices and identified sources of fever in a retrospective study of 219 children ages zero to 60 months (mean age, 23 months) who presented with febrile seizures to a community-based emergency department (ED) in New York from 2004 through 2009. Seizures were classified as simple in 182 patients and complex (defined as more than one seizure per 24 hours, seizure duration >15 minutes, or focalized activity) in 37.

Complete blood cell counts and basic metabolic panels were performed in 100% of patients. Blood cultures were performed in 205 patients (94%), with one (0.5%) positive for Salmonella. Urine cultures were obtained in 206 patients (94%), with 14 positive for Escherichia coli and one positive f…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)