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

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.