Febrile Convulsions In Children

2023 Author: Wallace Forman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 11:04

Febrile convulsions are seizures (convulsions) that occur in early childhood with febrile infections. They are seen in up to five percent of all children between six months and six years of age. Any infection can trigger a febrile seizure. A rapid rise and a high fever increase the risk of a seizure. At the beginning of the fever, the risk is greatest. Febrile seizures occur more frequently in children with a congenitally low seizure threshold…

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How to prevent a febrile seizure
What are the symptoms?
">How is a febrile seizure treated?

Whom can I ask?

How to prevent a febrile seizure

In 20 to 30 percent of the affected children, febrile seizures occur again as part of further febrile infections. As a preventive measure, children who have already had a febrile seizure should receive antipyretic medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if they have a febrile infection. Parents should have diazepam rectioles in stock at home so that they can quickly provide first aid if a febrile seizure recurs.

What are the symptoms?

Often times, the fever is only diagnosed after the cramps have started - the seizure is the first sign of the fever.

Uncomplicated febrile seizures: make up about two thirds of all febrile seizures. They only last a short time, usually a maximum of 15 minutes. The child usually becomes unconscious and shows symmetrical muscle twitching and stiffening of the arms and / or legs - that is, muscle twitches that occur equally on the right and left halves of the body. In some cases the child only relaxes.
Complicated febrile seizures: last more than 15 minutes. They can be asymmetrical, come back within 24 hours, or be followed by asymmetrical paralysis.

Note In particular, inflammatory diseases of the brain (meningitis or meningitis), other forms of convulsions and the onset of epilepsy are to be excluded.

How is a febrile seizure treated?

A febrile seizure should be interrupted as quickly as possible to avoid permanent damage. This is especially true if febrile seizures keep recurring over several months. Diazepam (intravenous or as a suppository) or clonazepam (intravenous) are used. An anti-fever therapy with paracetamol or ibuprofen and physical measures such as leg wraps or cooling baths should be carried out.

Febrile seizures are benign in about 95 percent of cases. The cramps can recur several times up to the age of six and then no longer occur. Epilepsy develops in around five percent of children.

You can also find information under Emergency - fever, febrile seizure.

Whom can I ask?

A doctor specializing in general medicine or paediatrics should be consulted immediately the first time a febrile seizure occurs. In most cases, on-site first aid will be sufficient. If seizures persist or occur repeatedly during the same episode of fever, immediate hospitalization is required.