Introduction

Febrile seizures and status epilepticus are common neurological emergencies seen in pediatric patients that require prompt recognition and management by pharmacists. Febrile seizures affect 2-5% of children between 6 months to 5 years of age and are defined as seizures accompanied by fever without central nervous system infection. Status epilepticus refers to continuous seizure activity lasting more than 5 minutes or recurrent seizures without full recovery in between. If not treated quickly, status epilepticus can lead to permanent neurological damage and even death.

Pharmacists play a vital role in optimizing anticonvulsant therapy, educating families, and preventing medication errors in pediatric patients with these conditions. Key aspects in febrile seizures include risk stratification for recurrence, appropriate use of testing, and judicious use of anticonvulsants to minimize adverse effects. For status epilepticus, rapid benzodiazepine administration, escalation to second-line agents, and aggressive management of refractory cases are critical. This section will cover the clinical features, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of both febrile seizures and status epilepticus with a focus on pharmacotherapy. Key guidelines and evidence for treatment will be presented along with clinical insights and scenarios.