Comparison between Diazepam and Phenobarbital in prevention of febrile seizure

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures are the most common convulsive events in childhood, occurring in 2-5% of children. About one third of these children will have a recurrence during a subsequent febrile infection.
Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial in 85 healthy children, aged 6 months to 5 years, who were not treated before.
These children received randomly either oral diazepam (0.33 mg/kg/tds for two days during febrile illness) or continuous oral Phenobarbital (3-5mg/kg /24 h).
Results: Ultimately 64 patients completed the study and were followed up for an average of 13 months (12-18 months). The rate of recurrence of febrile seizure was 18.2% in diazepam group and 32.3% in phenobarbital group; the difference is not statistically significant (p=0.16).
Conclusion: There was no significant difference between intermittent oral diazepam or continuous oral phenobarbital.