Febrile Seizure In Children

Febrile Seizure in Children

An infant or toddler with a body temperature from 102°F (38.9°C) and beyond due to fever might experience febrile seizures or convulsions. The seizures could last for a few minutes and can trigger a scare for parents or their caregivers.

Febrile seizures, however, generally do not bring complications as per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or cause permanent and lifelong harm to the child. It's not an indication of brain damage or epilepsy.

What causes febrile seizures?

Fever in children develops due to common illnesses caused by a viral or bacterial infection. A child with irritated ears, flu or roseola could end up with a high fever that sets off a febrile seizure.

The risks might increase

Convulsions can last for a minute or two but there have been reported cases where the condition went on for 15 minutes, as in cases of simple febrile seizures.

On the other hand, convulsions that go on more than 15 minutes or at different intervals within a 24-hour period is known as a complex febrile seizure. Sometimes, the seizures could also result in vomiting and peeing, which the children might not be aware of have control of.

What should you do if the child has a febrile seizure?

The most important thing to do in case of a febrile seizure is to stay calm. You’ll need presence of mind as well so that you can help your child and prevent injury.

Make sure that there is nothing around the child that she can hit or strike, such as sharp and hard objects.
If possible, settle the child on a large bed or the floor.
Be careful not to hold her down, as the jerking movements of the hands and feet might be too forceful and she could break her wrist or hurt you.
If you can do it, turn the child’s body to the side to prevent choking. Let her saliva flow out from her

The child will still be able to breathe fine despite what’s going on.
Call 911, or your local hospital, or the pediatrician if the seizure persists for more than five minutes.
If the convulsion stops, however, continue to let the child lie down on her side until you get proper medical assistance.

What can you do to prevent febrile seizure?

The convulsion stops on its own but you can prevent it from occurring by giving the child fever medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, as soon as you know she’s burning up. In some cases, however, the doctor might prescribe anticonvulsants. Always follow the doctor’s orders and give the medications as scheduled so that you can keep the fever under control.

What happens after?

Prognosis for febrile seizures, whether it’s simple or complex, are generally favorable and the child will eventually outgrow this condition. Forty percent of children who experience convulsions, however, would likely have another one within two years, according to