Convulsions triggered by fever are the most common type of seizures in childhood, and 20% to 30% of them have recurrence. The prophylactic treatment is still controversial, so we performed a systematic review to find out the effectiveness of continuous phenobarbital and intermittent diazepam compared to placebo for febrile seizure recurrence. METHOD: Only randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were analyzed. The recurrence of febrile seizure was assessed for each drug. RESULTS: Ten eligible clinical trials were included. Febrile seizure recurrence was smaller in children treated with diazepam or phenobarbital than in placebo group. Prophylaxis with either phenobarbital or diazepam reduces recurrences of febrile seizures. The studies were clinical, methodological, and statistically heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of phenobarbital and diazepam could not be demonstrated because clinical trials were heterogeneous, and the recommendation for treatment recurrence should rely upon the experience of the assistant physician yet.As convulsões desencadeadas por febre são muito comuns na infância e 20% a 30% delas apresentam recorrência. O tratamento profilático, no entanto, ainda é controverso, motivo porque realizamos uma revisão sistemática para avaliar a eficácia do tratamento da recidiva de convulsão febril com diazepam e fenobarbital comparados a placebo. MÉTODO: Analisamos somente estudos randomizados, duplo-cegos, controlados, utilizando fenobarbital contínuo ou diazepam intermitente versus placebo. RESULTADOS: Dez ensaios clínicos foram incluídos. A recorrência de convulsão febril foi menor no grupo das crianças tratadas com diazepam ou fenobarbital em relação ao controle. Tanto diazepam quanto fenobarbital reduziram as recorrências da convulsão febril. Os estudos foram clínica, metodológica e estatisticamente heterogêneos. CONCLUSÃO: A eficácia do fenobarbital e diazepam não pôde ser demonstrada nesta metanálise por causa da heterogeneidade dos ensaios clínicos, e a recomendação para tratamento de recorrência deve basear-se na experiência clínica de cada médico.Federal University of São Paulo Department of NeurologyFederal University of São Paulo Brazilian Cochrane CenterFederal University of São Paulo Department of Emergency MedicineFederal University of São Paulo Department of Emergency Medicine Department of NeurologyUNIFESP, Department of NeurologyUNIFESP, Brazilian Cochrane CenterUNIFESP, Department of Emergency MedicineUNIFESP, Department of Emergency Medicine Department of NeurologySciEL
