• Rationale and Comments

    CT scanning is associated with radiation exposure that may escalate future cancer risk. MRI also has associated risks from required sedation and high cost. The literature does not support the use of skull films in the evaluation of a child with a febrile seizure. Clinicians evaluating infants or young children after a simple febrile seizure should direct their attention toward identifying the cause of the child’s fever.

    Sponsoring Organizations

    • American Academy of Pediatrics

    Sources

    • American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines

    Disciplines

    • Emergency medicine
    • Neurologic
    • Pediatric

    References

    • American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures. Guideline for the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a simple febrile seizure. Pediatrics. 2011;127(2):389-94.