Febrile Seizures: What to Look for and How to Take Action
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
The word “seizure” can spark fear in the heart of a new parent, especially since many people associate seizures with a diagnosis of epilepsy or a seizure disorder. It’s not uncommon, however, for a child between 6 months to 5 years to experience a seizure triggered by a fever, which is defined as a body temperature of 100.4° or higher. This is called a febrile seizure.
Febrile seizures occur in approximately two to four percent of children, most commonly between 12 to 18 months old. They are more common in children with a family history of febrile seizures. Though a febrile seizure does not mean your child has epilepsy, it’s important to recognize a seizure when it’s happening, so you can take appropriate action and keep your child safe.
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A febrile seizure often occurs in the first few hours of a fever, when the temperature is rising.
“Fever from any viral or bacterial infection can result in febrile seizures,” says Sara Molisani, MD, attending physician in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “One of the more common viruses associated with febrile seizures is HHV-6, the virus that causes roseola.”
Characteristics of seizures, including febrile seizures, may include:
Febrile seizures often involve stiffening and/or shaking on both sides of the body, but sometimes only one side of the body is involved. Sometimes a child may lose consciousness, but not noticeably shake or move. While all seizures can be scary to see, most seizures, including febrile seizures, usually end in less than one to two minutes. After a seizure, your child may be sleepy or confused, but this will improve over the next several minutes to hours. Here’s what you can do if your child experiences a febrile seizure.
If your child experiences a febrile seizure, try to stay calm. You can keep your child safe by taking the following actions:
Call 911 immediately if:
If this is your child’s first febrile seizure, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Some infections can be very dangerous, and it’s important that a doctor determine and treat the cause of the fever.
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The doctor will examine your child and ask you to describe the seizure. Depending on your child’s symptoms, they may also order tests. If a serious infection is found, if the seizure was prolonged, or if your child is younger than 6 months, they may be admitted for further observation and testing.
Usually, however, no further testing or treatment is needed, and your doctor will talk to you about the best way to manage your child’s fever.
Even though febrile seizures can be scary, there’s no need to fear the worst outcome. Most febrile seizures are short and don’t cause any long-term problems. Even when a febrile seizure lasts a long time, most children recover completely. Says Dr. Molisani, “Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, lowered IQ or lowered school achievement later in life.”
Most children outgrow febrile seizures altogether by 5 to 6 years old. Once a child has experienced one febrile seizure, however, they are more likely to have another. Though fever-reducing medications may make your child more comfortable during illness, they can’t prevent a febrile seizure. If future febrile seizures are likely, it’s important to have a plan in place with your doctor. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help you feel more confident and keep your child safe.
Contributed by: Sara Molisani, MD
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