Febrile seizures: a new look at an old controversy.

The benign nature of febrile seizures (FS) has been well documented by large prospective population-based studies published between 1976 to 1987. However, many paediatricians still treat FS as though it is a serious condition which may cause brain damage, and epileptologists and neurosurgeons continue to debate the role of FS in causing temporal lobe epilepsy. The efficacy of long-term anticonvulsant therapy has recently been questioned and the possibility of permanent cognitive impairment after long-term phenobarbital has caused public alarm. This article attempts to review the areas of controversy and suggest a rational approach to the investigation and management of FS.