Delhi/NCR:

Mohali:

Dehradun:

Bathinda:

Mumbai:

Nagpur:

Lucknow:

BRAIN ATTACK:

01140554055

7710777107

01357193333

01645212039

02261347777

07127120000

05226780001

9910204023

Febrile Seizure

Febrile Seizure Treatment in Delhi, India

Get a Second Opinion Find a Doctor

To Book an Appointment

Call Us+91 926 888 0303

Overview

A febrile seizure is a type of seizure that occurs due to a high fever (102°F and above) in a young child. It is also known as febrile convulsions, and it majorly happens in children between the ages of 6 months and three years. A febrile seizure usually occurs during the first few hours of a fever.

After that, the child might show some symptoms of seizure-like rolling of eyes, stiffening the body, unresponsive for a short time, and more. However, these seizures are usually harmless and often last a few minutes. They don't indicate any serious medical condition.

Types

There are two types of febrile seizures that depend on the duration of the episode:

  • Simple febrile seizures: These are the most common type of febrile seizures in children due to high fever. The seizure usually lasts for a few minutes, and the child has full-body convulsions.
  • Complex febrile seizures: These are less common types of febrile seizures. They can last longer than 10 minutes and can happen more than once in 24 hours. The seizures can start focally with one body part moving independently of others.

Symptoms

There are different symptoms of a febrile seizure. However, not every child will suffer from all the signs. Some of the symptoms include:

  • High fever or rapid rise in body temperature
  • Muscle contraction for 15 to 20 seconds
  • Rolling of the eyes
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Temporary skin discolouration
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Clenching of teeth
  • A seizure that may last for one or two minutes

Causes

Febrile seizures occur when there is a high fever. The cause of the fever is usually due to bacterial infection. The flu and roseola appear to be commonly associated with febrile seizures. In some cases, the febrile seizure may be caused due to some childhood vaccinations. These may include tetanus, pertussis vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, and more. However, the root cause of this condition is still not known at the moment.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of febrile seizures is not generally required if they last less than two minutes and do not reoccur. This is primarily because these seizures occur with the child's normal development. However, the doctor will carefully monitor the condition and medical history of the child to rule out other conditions like epilepsy. For simple febrile seizures, the doctor may perform specific tests just to rule out other conditions. These may include:

  • Blood test
  • Urine test
  • Spinal tap to check the central nervous system infection like meningitis in rare cases

The doctor may recommend an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check brain activity in complex febrile seizures. This may be done if the child's episode lasts for an unusual amount of time, symptoms of increased pressure in the skull, irregular neurological evaluation, and more.

Treatment

There is no need to treat febrile seizures in most cases, as they stop on their own within a couple of minutes. However, it can be frightening and distressing to the child having a seizure for any parent. But it is important to note that these seizures are generally harmless, and almost all children recover entirely afterwards. That said, one can take some actions while the child is having a febrile seizure, including:

  • Roll them onto their side
  • Don't put anything in the mouth
  • Don't restrict the movement of the seizure
  • Move the baby away from objects that may harm them during convulsions
  • Loosen uptight or restrictive cloths

Call emergency medical attention if the febrile seizure lasts more than five minutes or the child has repeated seizures within 24 hours. That said, a hospital stay isn't necessary for a simple febrile seizure. That said, once the seizure subsides, the doctor may recommend some medications to treat the condition.

Medications: The doctor may prescribe medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to bring the temperature of the child during fever. For recurring febrile seizures, the doctor may recommend using diazepam. Moreover, the doctor may also prescribe rescue medicine to stop seizures fast. However, these are meant to be used in extreme conditions and not daily.

Risk factor

Children who are at higher risk of febrile seizure may have the following conditions:

  • Age: Children who are younger than 18 months are at increased risk of getting febrile seizure.
  • Family history: Children who have a family history of febrile seizures are at increased risk of getting febrile seizures.

Prevention

Febrile seizures cannot be prevented, as they mostly go away within a few minutes. However, one can do a few things to reduce the chance of developing a fever. Giving fever medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as prescribed by the doctor helps to reduce the fever. However, it cannot prevent febrile seizures.

Complication

Most febrile seizures don't have any lasting effects on the child. Simple febrile seizures usually don't cause any damage to the brain or mean that the child has any underlying condition or disorder. Febrile seizures should not also be mistaken with epilepsy, which is a severe condition that causes unprovoked seizures due to abnormal electrical signals in the brain.

Outlook

The outlook for simple febrile seizures is usually positive, as it goes away on its own within two minutes. However, in the case of complex febrile seizures, there may be a need for medical attention to rule out other risk factors or any underlying condition.

Review

Reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Saxena, Senior Director & HOD, Neurosciences, Neurology.


Other Conditions & Treatments

Get Second Opinion

Get free second opinion from India’s leading specialists.

Email - digitalquery@maxhealthcare.com

Our Medical Experts

Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.

Our Medical Experts

Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.

Find a Doctor
Find a Doctor

Specialist in Location

Top Blogs