What are Febrile Seizures?

Often hearing the word "seizures" causes a snense of panic, especially when it effects young children, however, oftentimes much of the panic or stress associated with seizures can be reduced by simply understanding the seizures and their characteristics. So, what are Febrile seizures? Febrile seizures are seizures or convulsions that occur in young children and are triggered by fever. The fever may accompany common childhood illnesses such as a cold, the flu, or an ear infection. In some cases, a child may not have a fever at the time of the seizure but will develop one a few hours later.

Having a febrile seizure does not mean a child has epilepsy since that disorder is characterized by reoccurring seizures that are not triggered by fever.

If a child has a fever, most parents will use fever-lowering drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to make the child more comfortable. However, studies show this does not reduce the risk of having another febrile seizure.

Symptoms

Most febrile seizures last only a few minutes and are accompanied by a fever above 101°F. Young children between the ages of about 6 months and 5 years old are the most likely to experience febrile seizures. Children are at the greatest risk of having a febrile seizure at age 2. Symptoms may include:

The child will lose consciousness
Both arms and legs will shake uncontrollably
Eye rolling
Rigid (stiff) limbs

Sometimes during a febrile seizure, a child may lose consciousness but will not noticeably shake or move. Although they can be frightening for parents, brief febrile seizures (less than 15 minutes) do not cause any long-term health problems. However, if another does occur, it is more likely to be prolonged. A prolonged initial febrile seizure does not substantially boost the risk of reoccurring febrile seizures. Even prolonged seizures are generally harmless but do carry an increased risk of developing epilepsy or brain injury.

• Parents and caretakers should remain calm, take first-aid measures, and carefully observe the child. If a child is having a febrile seizure, parents and caregivers should note the start time of the seizure. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, call an ambulance. The child should be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility for diagnosis and treatment. Call an ambulance if the seizure is less than 5 minutes but the child does not seem to be recovering quickly. Gradually place the child on a protected surface such as the floor or ground to prevent accidental injury. Do not restrain or hold a child during a convulsion. Position the child on his or her side or stomach to prevent choking. When possible, gently remove any objects from the child’s mouth. Nothing should ever be placed in the child's mouth during a seizure. These objects can obstruct the child's airway and make breathing difficult. Seek immediate medical attention if this is the child’s first febrile seizure and take the child to the doctor once the seizure has ended to check for the cause of the fever.

The vast majority of febrile seizures are short and do not cause any long-term damage. During a seizure, there is a small chance that the child may be injured by falling or may choke on food or saliva in the mouth. Using proper first aid for seizures can help avoid these hazards. There is no evidence that short febrile seizures cause brain damage. Large studies have found that even children with prolonged febrile seizures have normal school achievement and perform as well on intellectual tests as their siblings who do not have seizures. Even when the seizures last a long time, most children recover completely.

Febrile seizures are the most common type of convulsions in infants and young children and occur in 2 to 5 percent of American children before age 5. Approximately 40 percent of children who experience one febrile seizure will have a recurrence.