Febrile seizures
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 body stiffening, twitching of the face, arms and legs, staring, and loss of consciousness
- whether your child recovered within one hour
- whether they've had a seizure before
Further tests, such as a blood or urine sample,may be needed if the cause of your child's illness isn't clear.
It can sometimes be difficult to get a urine sample from young children, so it may have to be done in hospital.
Further testing and observation in hospital is also usually recommended if your child's symptoms are unusualor they'rehaving complex febrile seizures, particularly if they're younger than12 months old.
The tests that may be recommended include:
- an electroencephalogram (EEG) this measures your child's electrical brain activity by placing electrodes on their scalp; unusual patterns of brain activity can sometimes indicate epilepsy
- a lumbar puncture where a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is removed for testing; CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord
A lumbar puncture can be used to determine whether your child has an infection of the brain or nervous system.
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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