Febrile convulsions, or a febrile seizure, are seizures caused by a fever. Febrile seizures most often occur in babies and young children whose temperatures suddenly spike, according to MayoClinic.com. Febrile seizures are often caused by the virus roseola infantum, ear infections and viral respiratory infections, MedlinePlus reports. In infants, viral meningitis can cause a seizure, although this is not common in older children.
Symptoms
Febrile convulsions develop in response to a fever, but the seizure does not necessarily occur when a child's fever is at its peak. When your child is having a febrile seizure, he may be unresponsive or act or appear strangely, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. You may notice twitching or muscle spasms, and he may look stiff and have his eyes rolled up. The convulsions and contractions may make your baby cry or moan, and he may stop breathing. After a period of time, your baby's body may relax before contracting again, causing new convulsions. Febrile seizures can last anywhere from a just a few seconds to 10 minutes or more. After the seizure is over, your baby may be extremely sleepy or drowsy.
Rate of Occurrence
Between 3 percent and 5 percent of children younger than 5 will experience a febrile seizure, MedlinePlus reports. Babies are not affected as often as toddlers. Once a child has experienced one febrile seizure, she is more likely to have another. In fact, 35 percent of children experience a second febrile seizure, usually within two years of the first. Repeat febrile seizures are most likely in children who experienced their first seizure before their first birthday. The seizures also appear to run in families.
Treatment
If your baby has a febrile seizure, it's important to act quickly to prevent an injury. If your baby is on the floor, leave her there, although you can place blankets under or around her to protect her. If your baby is not on the floor, move her to the floor or another stable surface and remove any nearby objects that could harm her, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. Turn her head to the side so she does not choke on her saliva or vomit, but do not put anything in her mouth. Once the seizure has ended, take steps to lower your child's body temperature, but avoid oral fever-reducing medications, MedlinePlus advises. Try a lukewarm bath or cool washcloths, but do not put your child in a cold bath. Call your baby's pediatrician immediately or consider a trip to the emergency room if your doctor is not available. Your baby needs to be evaluated promptly to ensure that the cause of the seizure was not a serious condition, such as viral meningitis.
