Of greatest concern is the small group of children with very prolonged febrile seizures lasting longer than 30 minutes. In these children, the risk of epilepsy is as high as 30 to 40 percent though the condition may not occur for many years. Recent studies suggest that prolonged febrile seizures can injure the hippocampus, a brain structure involved with temporal lobe epilepsy TLE.
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. Doctors often perform other tests such as examining the blood and urine to pinpoint the cause of the child's fever.
Dehydration from severe diarrhea or vomiting could be responsible for seizures. Meningitis, an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain, can cause both fever and seizures that can look like febrile seizures but are much more serious. If a doctor suspects a child has meningitis, removing and evaluating a small of the cerebrospinal fluid fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord may be needed. If the seizure is either very prolonged or is accompanied by a serious infection, or if the child is younger than 6 months of age, the clinician may recommend hospitalization.
In most cases, however, a child who has a febrile seizure usually will not need to be hospitalized. The majority of children with febrile seizures to not need medication. Experts recommend that children who have experienced a febrile seizure not take any antiseizure medication to prevent future seizures, as the side effects of these daily medications outweigh any benefits.
This is especially true since most febrile seizures are brief and harmless. Children especially prone to febrile seizures may be treated with medication, such as diazepam, when they have a fever. This medication may lower the risk of having another febrile seizure. It is usually well tolerated, although it occasionally can cause drowsiness, a lack of coordination, or hyperactivity.
Children vary widely in their susceptibility to such side effects. A child whose first febrile seizure is a prolonged one does not necessarily have a higher risk of having reoccurring prolonged seizures. But if they do have another seizure, it is likely to be prolonged. Because very long febrile seizures are associated with the potential for injury and an increased risk of developing epilepsy, some doctors may prescribe medication to these children to prevent prolonged seizures.
The parents of children who have experienced a long febrile may wish to talk to their doctor about this treatment option. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS is the primary funding agency on research on brain and nervous system disorders and conditions, including epilepsy and seizures. Researchers are exploring the biological, environmental, and genetic risk factors that might make children susceptible to febrile seizures. Outlook for adults and children with convulsions Or they may experience several over a period of days or weeks.
Febrile convulsions tend to run in families. There are usually no long-term problems due to febrile convulsions. A febrile convulsion is a fit or seizure that occurs in children when they have a high fever. This can happen in children aged six months to five years. The fever is usually due to a viral illness or, sometimes, a bacterial infection. Most febrile seizures stop on their own within a couple of minutes.
If your child has a febrile seizure, stay calm and follow these steps:. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Subscribe for free and receive the latest on epilepsy treatment, care and management. Error Select a topic.
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You're likely to start by seeing your child's family doctor or pediatrician. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the brain and nervous system neurologist.
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