Febrile seizure (children)

Alternative names:

seizure - fever induced

Symptoms:

• fever (especially a high temperature or rapid rise in body temperature)
• tonic clonic or grand mal seizure
• loss of consciousness that lasts 30 seconds to fiveminutes (experienced by almost all children with this condition)
• tonic posturing (general muscle contraction and rigidity that usually lasts 15 to 20 seconds)
• clonic movement (a violent rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation that commonly lasts for one to two minutes)
• biting of cheek or tongue
• clenched teeth or jaw
• incontinence (loss of control) of urine and/or stool
• breathing difficulty
• absence of breathing or difficulty breathing during a seizure
• blue skin color
• usually resuming deep, spontaneous breathing after the seizure

After the seizure:

• usually arousable within minutes but may feel like sleeping for one hour or longer
• loss of memory (amnesia), partial amnesia regarding events surrounding seizure episode
• headache
• drowsiness
• confusion, temporary, mild

Signs and tests:

A febrile seizure may be diagnosed by the health care provider when a grand mal seizure occurs in a child with a fever and no prior history of seizure disorders (epilepsy). In infants and young children it is important to rule out outer causes for a first-time seizure, especially meningitis.

In a typical febrile seizure the examination usually shows no abnormalities other than the illness causing the fever. However, it remains important to rule out other causes.
An EEG may show no sign of abnormality when the child is not actively having seizures. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid may be used to rule out meningitis or encephalitis. Other blood tests or examinations may be appropriate to rule out other causes for the seizures.