What is a Febrile Seizure?

What Is a Febrile Seizure? Causes, Signs & How to Respond

A febrile seizure is caused by a fever, usually in children between 6 months and 5 years of age. These seizures may happen with an abrupt rise in body temperature, usually from an infection, leading to abnormal brain electrical activity. They are most prevalent in children between 12 and 18 months of age and tend to appear within 24 hours of developing a fever.

Although distressing, febrile seizures are usually brief, non-life-threatening, and infrequently indicate long-term conditions such as epilepsy. Keep reading to learn about febrile seizures, their types, symptoms, and treatment approaches.

What are the Types of Febrile Seizure?

Febrile seizures are further divided into two broad categories: simple and complex, depending on their duration, frequency, and affected body parts.

1. Simple Febrile Seizures: Simple febrile seizures are the most prevalent form and usually aren't dangerous. They consist of generalized convulsions that involve the whole body, not just a part of it. 
   
   These last anywhere from several seconds to less than 15 minutes and happen only once in 24 hours. In this type of seizure, the child usually recovers quickly without any long-term consequences.
    
2. Complex Febrile Seizures: Complex (or complicated) febrile seizures occur less frequently and are more serious because of their characteristics. They begin focally, with movement or twitching localised to a region or one side of the body.
   
   They persist for longer than 15 minutes and can occur more than once during a 24-hour time span. Because of their long or repetitive occurrence and possible focal beginning, complex febrile seizures require further medical assessment to exclude concomitant neurological problems.

What are the symptoms of a febrile seizure?

Febrile seizures usually happen in young children with a fever (greater than 100.4°F or 38.0°C) and are classified as simple or complex. Significant signs and symptoms are:

• Loss of Consciousness: The child may suddenly be unconscious or pass out with a rolling back of the eyes.
• Convulsions or Shaking: Rhythmic, uncontrollable muscle movements involving the whole body (in simple seizures) or one side or half of the body (in complex seizures) may occur.
• Muscle Stiffness or Twitching: The child can become rigid or twitchy.
• Loss of Body Control: During the seizure, you might experience drooling, vomiting, urination, or bowel movements.
   

Apart from these, some other symptoms may also occur, like:

• Moaning or strange noises can accompany convulsions.
• Severe sleepiness or confusion can follow the seizure, particularly in seizures of prolonged duration.
• Simple febrile seizures last for a few seconds to 15 minutes in duration, involve the entire body, and occur once every 24 hours.
• Complex febrile seizures exceed 15 minutes in duration, can recur within 24 hours, and can involve only a side or limb of the body.
   

These seizures usually occur within 24 hours after a fever has been triggered and can be the initial sign that the child is not well. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or if vomiting, breathing issues, or severe drowsiness occur, immediate medical care is needed.

How to Avoid Febrile Seizures?

Febrile seizures cannot usually be prevented since their cause is not known. There is no guaranteed way to prevent a febrile seizure, as they are caused by the brain's response to a rapid rise in temperature, not the height of the fever itself. Using fever-reducing medication can make your child more comfortable but has not been proven to prevent seizures. The focus should be on treating the underlying illness and providing appropriate first aid if a seizure occurs. 

What is the treatment for a febrile seizure?

Treatment of febrile seizures focuses on symptom management, supportive care, and medication. Here are the most commonly adopted treatment approaches for febrile seizures:

• Immediate First Aid: Remain calm, lay the child on their side on a soft or safe surface, note the time the seizure begins and how long it lasts, try to keep hazardous objects away from the child, loosen tight clothing, and do not restrain the child or place anything in their mouth.
• Observation for Serious Cases: Hospitalisation is necessary if the seizure prolongs, the child is six months or less in age, there isa severe infection, or the cause of the fever is unknown.
• Taking Down the Fever: To manage the underlying infection, the doctor may suggest age-appropriate fever reducers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).
• Treatment for Complex Seizures: For seizures longer than five minutes or more than one in 24 hours, drugs like intranasal midazolam, intravenous benzodiazepines, or rectal diazepam can be given.
  
   

Febrile seizures are a widespread but unnerving experience in early childhood for many families. Although terrifying at the time, they're usually harmless and do not indicate long-term health issues. Knowledge of the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and proper treatment enables parents to act assertively and secure their child's safety during the attack.