Question
A six-month-old baby cannot lift her head, can roll over, and has normal appetite. She has no significant abnormalities, but sometimes she trembles. What medication should be given to a child experiencing a severe epileptic seizure?
Answer
Based on your description, this three-year-old girl is likely to have been diagnosed with epilepsy at a local hospital and is currently in the midst of a severe epileptic seizure. For severe epileptic seizures in children, intravenous medication should be considered first, starting with the administration of diazepam intravenously at a dose of 0.3 mg per kilogram of body weight, given by intravenous push. If oral medication is possible, sodium valproate extended-release tablets can be considered.