Prehospital
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Paediatrics

Parental thoughts and actions regarding their child's first febrile seizure.

Hideaki Kanemura, Fumikazu Sano, Sonoko Mizorogi, Tomoko Tando, Kanji Sugita, Masao Aihara

Pediatrics International · 2013-01-30 · Observational study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little is known about what parents think and how they act when their child experiences febrile seizure (FS). This study therefore surveyed parents of 78 children who had experienced a first FS regarding their thoughts and actions. METHODS: The questionnaire was divided into three parts: details of the child and their family; medical management of the child before reaching hospital; and parental thoughts and actions when the child experienced convulsions. RESULTS: Parents without prior knowledge of FS showed a higher rate of thinking that FS were harmful than parents with prior knowledge (P < 0.03). Parents with prior knowledge were aware that their child was having an FS at a higher rate than parents without prior knowledge (P < 0.001). Moreover, parents without prior knowledge managed the convulsions less appropriately than parents with prior knowledge (P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Parental fears that the death of their child was imminent and the misperception of FS as a serious, life-threatening condition indicate a lack of knowledge regarding FS. Organizing parental support groups and effective educational intervention programs for parents should be given priority in the care of children with FS.

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Bystanders · Children

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