A paediatric febrile seizure is one of the most common childhood disorders related to convulsions. Febrile (meaning feverish) seizures are convulsions that can happen during a fever and are generally seen in children aged between 3 months and 6 years of age. A febrile seizure is most commonly observed in babies who are 12–18 months old. While these seizures can be quite traumatic for you and the child, they usually don’t require treatment or cause other health problems.
A febrile seizure is a convulsion that may get triggered by a high fever, often from an infection. A febrile seizure fever can be alarming for a parent to witness.
Febrile seizures represent the response of a child’s brain to rising body temperature, usually on the very first day of a fever. Fortunately, in most cases, the seizure has no lasting effect. It does not create difficulties in learning or cause any underlying disorder. However, as a matter of caution, a doctor should be consulted immediately if a child has an episode of febrile seizure.
As a parent, you can help your child by keeping him/her safe during a seizure and by comforting them afterwards. Febrile seizure fever does not cause any cognitive problems, epilepsy, or brain damage in a child. In fact, children having febrile seizures have excellent prognosis for normal neuron functions.
Children who have a family history of febrile seizures are more likely to suffer from one. If your child has had a febrile seizure and is below 15 months of age, then there is a high likelihood of them experiencing another seizure in future. In 33% of the cases, children who have had one seizure will have another one, generally within the first 1–2 years of their life. Thankfully, most children stop having febrile seizures by the age of 5 years and above.
Wondering what causes febrile seizures in infants? This disturbing incident usually happens with fevers where the temperature is higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The seizures tend to occur during the first 24 hours of a fever, but not necessarily when a child’s fever is spiking upwards.
There aren’t any specific causes of febrile seizures in infants. Certain viruses cause fever leading to seizure. Some children’s developing brains can also react to high fevers by triggering a seizure.
It is rather rare for a febrile seizure to be caused by a bacterial infection and related fever. Viral infections such as various types of the flu that are often accompanied by high fever are mostly linked to febrile seizure.
There is a misplaced apprehension that certain vaccinations, such as the vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and/or measles–mumps-rubella, increase the chances of febrile seizures. In truth, it is a low-grade fever that causes the seizure, not the vaccination as interpreted in general.
The symptoms of a febrile seizure can range from mild to severe and from staring to shaking or tightening of the muscles.
A child having a febrile seizure is likely to:
A child with a febrile seizure may feel tired and sleepy after the seizure subsides. Their arms and legs may jerk and the seizure may last only for a few seconds or up to 15 seconds.
The first recurrence after an initial febrile seizure usually occurs within a year. Factors that increase the risk of having a recurring febrile seizure include:
Young age
Most febrile seizures are common in children between 6 months and 5 years of age. The likelihood of a recurrence decreases as the child grows up.
Family history
Some febrile seizures can be genetic in nature.
Persistent fever
A relatively shorter duration of low fever can also trigger febrile seizures.
Illness
As per medical reports, thirty per cent of children can have recurrent febrile seizures during subsequent illnesses.
The most common complication of a febrile seizure is the risk of recurrence. It can occur if:
The diagnosis involves a thorough physical examination, including a neurological exam or laboratory tests, if needed. The doctor will also track the history of symptoms.
Blood/urine tests and lumbar punctures are done to rule out other possible causes for the seizure and to detect viruses or bacteria or high levels of white blood cells, which may indicate infection. Dehydration (e.g., caused by vomiting and/or diarrhoea) and meningitis-related fever can also cause seizures.
Complex febrile seizures may require extensive diagnostic testing. Inconclusive lab tests, inconclusive physical examination, and any unusual suspicion of a neurological condition may make the doctor ask further questions. An electroencephalogram (EEG) is one such additional non-invasive test and is normally performed after a febrile seizure.
Further testing may not be needed in the following cases:
Most febrile seizures stop on their own within a couple of minutes. If your child’s seizures extend beyond a few minutes or repeat frequently, then it is advisable to call for emergency medical attention.
If the seizure is because of a persistent infection or if it is hard to determine the source of the infection, then your child may need hospitalisation for further observation.
Parents need to take certain precautions to handle the situation while the child is having a febrile seizure.
The understanding and reassurance of the family play a vital role in managing febrile seizure. A first seizure episode can be a terrifying experience for most parents. It is important to understand that there will be no subsequent risk of intellectual delay in the child.
The next step is to follow instructions for the treatment of a complex febrile seizure (if there is any) to rule out serious underlying infections such as meningitis or encephalitis. This will be done by lumbar puncture, clinical assessment, or through laboratory tests like EEG or neuroimaging. Your doctor will perform proper diagnosis and recommend the necessary treatment in case a serious illness is detected.
Most febrile seizures occur in the first few hours of fever, during the initial rise in body temperature. In such a case, the child can be given paracetamol or acetaminophen for comfort. However, it must be remembered that these won’t stop a seizure.
Rarely, prescription anticonvulsant medications may be used to try to prevent febrile seizures. However, since these medications can have side-effects, they should be avoided unless necessary.
The paediatrician may prescribe specific drugs to treat a child having recurring febrile seizures or seizures of long duration.
Febrile seizures often occur within the first 24 hours of fever and can be the first symptoms of the child’s illness. Take your child to the doctor for an evaluation right after a febrile seizure.
Febrile seizures are classified as simple or complex:
This is a more common type of seizure that lasts from a few seconds to 15 minutes. Simple febrile seizures do not repeat within a 24-hour period and generally have no impact on any specific part of the body.
This type of seizure lasts more than 15 minutes and recurs within 24 hours. The child may become unconscious and the seizure typically impacts one side of the body.
If your child shows any symptoms of a complex febrile seizure, or seems to be sluggish and has trouble breathing, please consult the doctor without delay.
Despite the typically benign nature of febrile seizures, this condition should not be overlooked. The guidelines given here aim to help improve the understanding in dealing with febrile seizures and to ensure the overall health and wellness of the child.
This post was last modified on May 17, 2021 4:53 pm
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