EEG for children with complex febrile seizures.

backgroundFebrile seizures can be classified as simple or complex. Complex febrile seizures are associated with fever that lasts longer than 15 minutes, occur more than once within 24 hours and are confined to one side of the child's body. It is common in some countries for doctors to recommend an electroencephalograph (EEG) for children with complex febrile seizures. A limited evidence base is available to support the use of EEG and its timing after complex febrile seizures among children.

objectivesTo assess the use of EEG and its timing after complex febrile seizures in children younger than five years of age. SEARCH

methodsWe searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialised Register (17 October 2013), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 9, 2013), MEDLINE (17 October 2013) and the Clinical Trial Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov (17 October 2013)). We applied no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the utility of an EEG and its timing after complex febrile seizures in children. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Review authors selected and retrieved the articles and independently assessed which articles should be included. Disagreements were resolved by discussion and by consultation with the Cochrane Epilepsy Group. We applied standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Colloboration. MAIN

resultsOf 33 potentially eligible studies, no RCTs met the inclusion criteria. AUTHORS'

conclusionsWe found no RCTs as evidence to support or refute the use of EEG and its timing after complex febrile seizures among children. A randomised controlled trial can be planned in such a way that participants are randomly assigned to the EEG group and to the non-EEG group with sufficient sample size.