Causes and risk factors:
Febrile seizures are commonly caused due to high grade fevers. Usually the body temperature is above 102°F. Fevers are caused due to infection either viral or bacterial .Febrile seizures are also caused post immunization e.g.: DTP, MMR
Clinical presentations:
Children with febrile convulsions presents with high grade fever. The complaints are commonly seen on the first day of the fever and can lasts for a minute or two maximum up to 10 min.Usually the rectal temperature at such time is 102 °F. Trembling or jerking of the extremities or entire body is seen. Sometimes rolling upwards of eye balls and stiffness at other times jerks or shaking may be limited to single part of the body. Drowsiness or loss of consciousness follows convulsions occur. Rigidity of the body and dribbling of foamy saliva from the angle of the mouth or sometimes vomiting can be seen. During convulsion child may be choking for breath due to spasm.
Diagnosis and investigations:
Diagnosis is done on the basis of symptoms narrated by the attendant and the examination carried out by the doctor. Usually the temperature is above 100degree faranite. Investigations like blood test and urine test are helpful in diagnosing the cause of fever. A complete workup of seizures includes lumbar puncture test to check CSF to rule out other causes like meningitis or encephalitis. EEG or CT scan is routinely done post seizures to rule out any other brain diseases.
Treatment:
Febrile seizures are self limiting and usually resolve on its own and do not require any medical intervention. However during seizures proper ventilation should be maintained and steps should be taken to reduce the body temperature. To prevent injury the child must be place on a carpet on floor. One should not place anything in Childs mouth. Due care must be taken in case of vomiting that it is not aspirated by the child. In cases if the seizures lasts for more than 10 min antipyretic and anti seizure medications are administered rectally and the child should be take to the hospital immediately.
Other modes of treatment:
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating febrile seizures. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization and considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms.
Recent update:
Researchers are going on which will help to find out that which child is prone for recurrent and long lasting febrile seizures.
UC Irvine researchers claim that a newly discovered biomarker – visible in brain scans for hours after febrile seizures – predicts which individuals will subsequently develop epilepsy.
