Experimental Analysis of Convulsion in the Course of Hyperpyrexy

Abstract

Although the pathogenesis of febrile convulsions has not been explained as yet it is maintained that they are several factors involved. Of these one is hyperpyrexia itself another the toxins of infective agents, (that caused the increase of temperature), and finally individual an general predisposition.

Recently emphasis has been laid upon certain additional pathogenetic role of antipyretics, and the effect of aminopyrine and salicylates has been particularly pointed out.

We were especially interested in elucidating experimentally the part which individual antipyretic plays in causing convulsions, but we also examined the convulsive effect of some analeptics used in paediatric practice. In our experiments we used young rabbits, producing in them hyperpyrexia by means of pyrexal, a toxin obtained from Salmonella abortus equi. Our object was to answer the question to what extent the most frequently used antipyretics (amidopyrin and salicylates) and analeptics (cardiazol and caffeine) influence the occurrence and the intensification of the convulsions in hyper pyretic animals. Our investigations could be summarized as follows:

1. Aminopyrin provoked convulsions more often in hyper pyretic animals the in the control ones,

2. Neither the control animals nor the hyper pyretic ones exhibit convulsions after receiving calmopyrin (calcium salt of the acetyl salicylic acid),

3. Cardiazol provokes convulsions in hyper pyretic animals in doses which are very rarely convulsive in apyretic, control ones,

4. Although caffeine produces convulsions in both, in hyper pyretic and in control animals, however many more of the former ones died,

5. Our experiments led us to a practical conclusion, namely, before giving the above-mentioned antipyretics or analeptics to a child that has already had convulsions and particularly if it is under three years of age, one should be very cautious and it that is indicated bear in mind their convulsive effect.