ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate inflammatory signs presented in medical records of patients with a main diagnosis of epileptic seizures, admitted in an emergency unit.
Method:
Cross-sectional and retrospective study. The sample was composed of 191 medical records, from children, adolescents, adults, and elders, with a clinical diagnosis of epileptic seizures, admitted between June 2016 and June 2017 at the emergency unit of a hospital in Porto Alegre/RS.
Results:
The prevalent inflammatory signs were tachypnea (33.5%) and/or fever (27.2%) associated with leukocytosis (P=0.030). Children/adolescents had seizures less frequently (P=0.010) and these were due to fever (P=0.000). Adults presented seizures more frequently (P=0.006), which were related to medication/intoxication (P=0.000). In elders, seizures occurred due to metabolic or circulatory abnormalities (P=0.000), less often due to fever (P=0.005).
Conclusion:
Seizures are related to fever and tachypnea, being caused by different etiologies according to age, being more frequent in adults. Fever is related to leukocytosis, regardless of age.
Keywords:
Seizures; Emergency nursing; Inflammation; Emergency medical services