Manuseio da crise febril na urgência – análise crítica da coleta de lcr: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the profile of children attended with febrile seizure and collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a referral hospital for meningitis hospitalization in the city of Recife. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Were analyzed the medical reports of children between 6 months and 5 years (60 months) who had febrile seizure and collected CSF. The study period was from January / 2013 to May / 2014. Were excluded patients in which occurred puncture accident, those with no data and children who had other diagnosis. Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info program version 7.0. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results: Were included in the study 126. The distribution of age was: 6 months to 1 year (25,40%); 1 year to 2 years (34,13%) and 2 years to 5 years (40,48%); 75 were male (59,52%) and 51 were female (40,48%). In 72 children (57,14%), convulsion occurred in the first 24 hours of fever. The most common associated symptoms were: vomiting in 46 children (36,51%), sensory changes in 25 children (19,84%) and impairment of general condition in 21 children (16,67%). It was not registered any bulging fontanelle. Signs of meningeal irritation were rare, being found neck stiffness in only 4 patients (3,17%) and headache in 3 (2,38%). In 56 patients (44,44%) there wasn’t any other symptoms / signal associated. We highlight that the CSF was normal in 128 children (99.21%) and only one patient had viral meningitis. Conclusion: The study results reinforce data from the literature that a child with febrile seizures, careful clinical observation could reduce the unnecessary practice of lumbar punctures.