- Definition
What are seizures with fever?
Febrile seizures are a type of seizure that is triggered by a fever. This type of seizure is the most common of all seizures (usually occurs in 4 percent of children) and is usually harmless. Fever seizures usually affect children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Most of the first seizures occur by age 3. The average temperature at which a febrile seizure occurs is 40 degrees Celsius, although some cases occur at lower febrile temperatures. Everyone has their own seizure threshold. For most children, the seizure threshold is 38-41 degrees Celsius so they don't have febrile seizures. Fever can also be caused by infections in any part of the body, including ear infections or a mild flu.
What are the signs and symptoms?
During a seizure, they will be unconscious. Their eyes either stare or roll upward. Their arms and legs become stiff or go into spasm. A febrile seizure usually lasts 1 to 10 minutes without treatment. Most of these children usually have only 1 febrile seizure in their lifetime. But the other 40 percent have had 1 to 3 febrile seizures in their lifetime. Relapse sometimes occurs due to low-grade fever (less than 37 degrees Celsius). The seizures usually stop happening when they are 5 or 6 years old.
You don't need to be afraid when you see your child have a seizure, because seizures do not cause brain damage or epilepsy. Sometimes a child will only be hurt if he falls during the seizure.
- How to handle
What should I do?
By reducing your child's fever as quickly as possible, you can shorten the seizures. Take off some of the clothes they are wearing and place a cold washcloth on their forehead and neck. If the seizure continues, wipe the body with a sponge soaked in cold water (but avoid using alcohol, as it can cause a coma). When the water evaporates, the temperature drops immediately. Do not place your child in the tub as this could harm them during the seizure.
When the seizures have stopped and your child is fully conscious, give the correct dose of paracetamol or acetaminophen. Also force them to drink cold liquids.
If you have anything in your child's mouth, remove it immediately so that your child doesn't choke. Place your child on their side or stomach (face down) to help remove any foreign objects or vomit. If he vomits, clean his mouth. If your child's breath sounds, pull their jaw and chin forward by placing your two fingers at the back corner of the jaw on each side (this will automatically point the tongue forward).
Common Mistakes in First Aid for Seizures
During a seizure, don't try to hold your child or stop the seizure from moving. Once started, the seizures will continue on their own no matter what you do. Don't try to revive your child just because their breath pauses for 5 to 10 seconds. Instead, try to make sure their airways aren't blocked. Do not try to force anything into your child's mouth as this can injure the mouth and teeth and cause vomiting, or bite your fingers. Don't try to hold your child's tongue.
Home Care After Children Have Fever Seizures
If your doctor agrees, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the next 48 hours (or longer if the fever persists).
Keep a few acetaminophen suppositories in your home in case your child one day has another febrile seizure (the dose is the same as oral medicine). When your child is fully conscious, you can give other febrifuge by mouth.
Provide lightweight clothing or blankets. Avoid covering your child with more than one blanket. Covering too much while sleeping can raise the temperature by an extra 1 or 2 degrees.
Keep your child hydrated by giving plenty of fluids.
When should I see a doctor?
Tell your doctor right away if the febrile seizure lasts more than 5 minutes. In all cases of febrile seizures, once the seizures have stopped, you should take your child to the nearest doctor or emergency room, and try to bring down the fever. Dress your child in light clothing and continue to apply a cold washcloth to their forehead. Seizures that last longer than 30 minutes can be very dangerous.
Although not as urgent as the symptoms above, you still need to see a doctor if:
- The seizure happened again
- Stiff neck (note: inability to stick chin to chest is an early symptom of meningitis)
- Your child feels confused or delirious
- Your child has a hard time waking up
- You feel that your child is getting worse.
- Prevention
The only way to prevent future seizures is to give your child daily anticonvulsants until they are 3 or 4 years old. Because anticonvulsants have side effects and febrile seizures are generally harmless, anticonvulsants are rarely prescribed again unless your child has other neurological problems. Your doctor will discuss this decision with you.
Febrile seizures usually occur on the first day of illness. By preventing high fever, you can prevent febrile seizures. If your child has had seizures in the past, try to keep the fever under control. Start giving them acetaminophen or ibuprofen when your child has a fever (temperature over 38 ° C) and give them continuously for 48 hours. If your child has a fever at bedtime, wake him up once at night to give fever medicine.
Since fever can occur after DPT immunization, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen at the doctor after your child has been immunized and give them the medicine for at least 24 hours.
