Febrile Seizures:
What is a Febrile Seizure:
A febrile seizure is a fit that can happen when a child has a fever. Febrile seizures are also sometimes called febrile convulsions. They are relatively common and, in most cases, aren’t serious. Febrile seizures most commonly happen between the ages of six months and six years.
At what temperature will a febrile seizure be triggered?
They are triggered by fever typically above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). In some cases, a child may not have a fever at the time of the seizure but will develop one a few hours later. Treating a child’s fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen will not always prevent a febrile seizure.
How to avoid febrile seizures?
It is difficult, comes “out of the blue” before you recognize that your child is ill. A seizure can be the first sign that alerts the family that the child is ill.
The risk of recurrent febrile seizures is higher for children who:
Main risk factor is age of first febrile seizure, if it is before 12 months, 50% of them will have another febrile seizure
Other risk factors:
Have a parent or sibling who had febrile seizures or epilepsy
Have a short time between the onset of fever and the seizure
Had a low degree of fever before their seizure
More risk factors = more risk of recurrence
how many febrile seizures is too many or normal.
Usually, children who have a febrile seizure will only ever have just one.
Is Febrile seizures curable?
It resolves by itself, No treatment is required.
Are febrile seizures harmful/dangerous, Can it cause death? Can it cause brain damage?
Febrile seizures may be alarming and upsetting to witness, but they are not harmful to your child. Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, Most children with fever suffer only minor discomfort.
Febrile seizures and epilepsy
Only 3 out of 100 children with febrile seizure develop Epilepsy, Risk factors are developmental delay, or child has other neurological problems, epilepsy in close family member (parents/Siblings).
Dr C P Ravikumar
CONSULTANT – PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore