1. FEBRILE SEIZURE/ SPASM - Call for help (from 1995; update
12/99)
from webmaster
As a german father of two children who have suffered from febrile
spasms, I’m looking for support from parents, grandparents,
Kindergartens/nurseries, doctors, nurses and electronic/thermometer
manufacturers.
Approximately 2-5% of all children (world wide!
That’s some 10 million people) have one or more febrile spasms.
Our experience is that a febrile spasm accompanies a rapid
increase in temperature (see below: e.g. 1.7°C/35.06°F within
1.5 hours). It is important to find out when such increases occur and
ensure that no fever develops. If someone in your surroundings has a
fever, or if your children are exposed to a situation where they may
get a fever, all you can do is measure their temperatures at very
short intervals. When a rapid increase in temperature occurs,
immediate steps must be taken to prevent fever developing (cold
compressions, suppositories).
Despite this, it is not always
possible to find out when such a fever takes hold (e.g. during the
night). Many doctors, therefore, try to prevent spasms by prescribing
regular, long term medication (to be taken mornings and
evenings over the years). This medication led to extreme side-effects
for one of our children. He suffered from migraines – similar
symptoms (very strong headaches, vomiting) against which there was
nothing we could do. Once the medication was stopped, the headaches
and vomiting also disappeared. I also think the number of moles on
his body increased.
Our experience has taught us: The long term side-effects have not been investigated enough.
It is therefore my aim to find a way of recognising an increase in
temperature without constantly having to take measurements. This is
possible by making a small but effective development of an electronic
fever thermometer. The thermometer would have to be placed on one
part of the body and be able to take the child’s temperature at
regular intervals. It would have to recognise an increase in
temperature and emit a signal when the body temperature crosses a
pre-set level.
After an extensive search, we found a manufacturer
of such a thermometer at an international medical technology trade
fair. The company was called TIUS ELCON Ltd, President Simon Dotan,
P.O. Box 1155 Hod Hasharon, 45102 Israel, Tel (from GERMANY at that
time): 00 972-3-936 6912. The thermometer could not be purchased in
Germany but we managed to get one from Israel using various
connections.
The MEMOTHERM thermometer
can take and save temperatures at short intervals (every
1/4 hour). Unfortunately, a signal is produced at too high an
absolute temperature. This was not suitable for us because our
children’s spasms began at 38°C/100.4°F. Furthermore,
the thermometer, which is attached to clothing by a clip, slipped
during the night. This meant that
it was no longer in contact
with the body. Finally, the attachment clip also broke off after a
while.
Original size 55* 35* 25 mm
This was not the right device for us anyway, because a signal was
not given when a rapid increase in temperature occurred. After this,
I registered a patent for "a signal
during a large increase in temperature" (see below)
and paid no fee. This means that the patent is free for everyone. The
idea can be used free of charge.
I then started looking for a
manufacturer. The president of TIUS ELCON wrote and told me that his
company were planning on developing such a thermometer. The company
TIUS ELCON, however, "disappeared" just as I wanted to
start further research. I was told over the phone that all patent
licenses had been taken over by an American company. Unfortunately, I
have not been able to find out any more information about this.
Does anyone have any information about this American company?
Are there any other companies that can/want to produce this thermometer (e.g. ARBO GmbH, Tel: GERMANY (0)531 480 880, with the latest version from DIGImed H22S)?
Please send any information to webmaster !
THE ADDRESS OF ANY MANUFACTURER WHO WISHES TO DO THIS WILL
BE
PUBLISHED ON THIS SITE.
Back to main homepage (english)
