{"id":9373,"date":"2020-04-09T09:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=9373"},"modified":"2020-09-16T14:45:09","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T18:45:09","slug":"febrile-seizures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/febrile-seizures\/","title":{"rendered":"How to treat febrile seizures"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was nursing my feverish 13-month-old, when he stopped eating and appeared to be staring intensely out the window. At first, I thought he saw something of interest, but then I noticed that I couldn\u2019t break his stare. He didn\u2019t respond to his name or to distraction. When he started making strange noises and drooling, I knew something was wrong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because I had worked in a daycare with several children who had a history of febrile seizures, I knew how to recognize one, and what to do. Having this information helped me stay calm during this very scary incident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, as frightening as they look, febrile seizures are rarely dangerous and usually, children outgrow them. My son is now 11 years old, seizure-free, and has no lasting effects from the febrile seizures he had as a child. Here\u2019s what you need to know about them.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a febrile seizure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Febrile seizures (also called febrile convulsions) are the most common of early childhood seizures. In fact, <\/span>2% to 5%<\/span><\/a> of children aged 6 months to 5 years experience febrile seizures. They are usually short in duration, generally lasting <\/span>less than one to two minutes<\/span><\/a>, and rarely more than five minutes. There are two types of febrile seizures.\u00a0 <\/span>Simple febrile seizures<\/span><\/a> are the most common, and last less than 15 minutes. Complex febrile seizures are ones that last longer than 15 minutes, recur within a 24 hour period, or have concerning features like <\/span>focal onset<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes febrile seizures?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Febrile seizures occur when a child has a fever. While they can occur with a low-grade fever (100.4 degrees F), they usually happen when the child\u2019s temperature is higher than 102 degrees F. They can also be associated with a rapidly changing body temperature\u2014usually, one that is rising quickly, but occasionally when a child\u2019s fever is dropping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Febrile seizures can occur with any illness and happen on the first day of a fever. Some illnesses commonly associated with febrile seizures include colds, the flu, roseola, pneumonia, and meningitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do fevers lead to seizures in some young children? \u201cIt is unknown,\u201d says Maryanne Tranter, Ph.D., APN, founder of <\/span>The Healthy Child Concierge<\/span><\/a>. \u201cBut a fever alters brain functions and chemistry. This influences brain neuron firing and excitability, which leads to seizures. Genetics influences these pathways. Environmental triggers are also believed to be involved.\u201d Meaning, a family history of febrile seizures could indicate a higher risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is at risk for febrile seizures?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Any children between 6 months and 5 years of age can have febrile seizures, most frequently between 14 to 18 months of age. They occur more in boys than in girls and have a slight tendency to be hereditary.<\/span><\/p>\n

About one third of children who have had one febrile seizure will have at least one more during their childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of a febrile seizure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Symptoms may include fever plus one or more of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n