Febrile seizures are triggered by high fever, and are the most common type of convulsion. They are almost always harmless. Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years are most commonly affected. Most first febrile seizures occur before 2 years of age. The average temperature is 104 F and can be caused by any infection. Febrile seizures usually last 1 to 10 minutes without treatment. Most children have just one febrile seizure. Others have 2 or 3 episodes then stop by age 5 or 6. The seizures do not cause brain damage, although a few people will later have seizures without fever. The way fever causes a seizure is uncertain. causes may include an immature brain, hereditary factors, infection, and reactions to immunizations. Risk increases if there is a history of febrile seizures in the family.

Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness during the seizure
• Drowsiness or sleepiness immediately after
• After recovering, the child should be alert without any abnormal behavior, weakness, or confusion and there should be no change in his usually behavior and function.

What you can do:
To prevent injury during the seizure:

• Put the child on a bed or carpeted floor, away from any hard or sharp objects
• Turn his head and body to one side in order to allow saliva or vomit to run out of the mouth. Loosen any tight clothing.
• DO NOT place any object in his mouth or grab inside the mouth or tongue
• If it is necessary to clear the mouth, sweep one finger through the mouth only
• Remain with the child until the seizure ends

When he awakens:

• Estimate the duration of the seizure. If it lasts longer than 3-4 minutes, seems severe, or the child is not breathing normally after the seizure, call for emergency assistance.
• Keep the child lying on one side in a safe area
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be given if the child is awake and alert
• He may be sponged off with lukewarm water but do not put him in a tub of water
• Call your doctor for further directions. If your doctor decides home treatment is appropriate, give acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 4 hours for the next 48 hours or as instructed.
• Anti-seizure medication is rarely prescribed; your physician may discuss this with you.

Preventive steps involve strict control of fever in child who has had a febrile seizure:

• Control fever closely by giving acetaminophen at the first sign of fever (over 100 F)
• If fever occurs at night, awaken once for medicine. Avoid more than one blanket for cover
• Have acetaminophen suppositories (available without prescription) on hand in case of another febrile seizure. Give acetaminophen in the office when the child gets immunized and continue for at least 24 hours.
• DO NOT give aspirin to children! May provoke Reye's syndrome, a serious brain infection

Contact your doctor immediately after a seizure stops if it lasts over 2 minutes. If you are told to drive to your doctor's office, keep fever down during the drive by dressing him lightly and sponging him with lukewarm water as necessary.

Call 9-1-1 if the seizure lasts longer than 3-4 minutes or seems severe, the child is not breathing normally after the seizure, another seizure occurs, his neck is stiff, he is confused or delirious, difficult to awaken, or is getting worse.

Contact Lake Area Pediatrics at
(936) 582-5620