Febrile seizures
Causes of febrile seizures
The cause of febrile seizures is unknown, although they're linked to the start of a fever, a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above.
There may also be a genetic link to febrile seizuresthe chances of having a seizure are increased if a close family member has a history of them.
In most cases,the high temperature is caused by an infection. Common examples are chickenpox , flu ,a middle ear infection or tonsillitis .
In rare cases, febrile seizures can occur after a child has a vaccination.
Research has shown children have a 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 chance of having a febrile seizure after having the MMR vaccine .
The risks are even lower with the DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccine a1 in 11,000 to 16,000 chance.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about febrile seizures, where a young child with a fever has a fit. Febrile seizures are relatively common and, in most cases, aren't serious.
Signs of a febrile seizure
A febrile seizure usually lasts for less than five minutes. Your child will: become stiff and their arms and legs may begin to twitch lose consciousness and may wet or soil themselves They ma
What to do during a febrile seizure
If your child is having a febrile seizure, place them in the recovery position . Stay withyour childand try to make a note of how long the seizure lasts. Don't put anything into your child's mouth du
Seeing a doctor
Febrile seizures canoften be diagnosed from a description of what happened.It's unlikely thata doctorwill see the seizure,so it's useful to note: how long the seizure lasted what happened such as b
Causes of febrile seizures
The cause of febrile seizures is unknown, although they're linked to the start of a fever, a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above. There may also be a genetic link to febrile seizuresthe chances
Recurring febrile seizures
About a third of children who have had a febrile seizure will have another one during a subsequent infection. This often happens within a year of the first one. Recurrence is more likely if: the fi
Complications of febrile seizures
Febrile seizures have been linked to an increased risk of epilepsy , as well as other problems. Recent research findings may indicate a link between febrile seizures and sudden unexplained death in c
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