Febrile convulsions or seizures - an attack of convulsions, which can occur when a child's temperature rises, usually due to infection. The attack often occurs within the first days of fever, the term "Rush" is determined by the temperature of 38 ° C or higher. In some cases, a child may not be fever, when there is an attack, but it develops a few hours later. Apparently, there is no relationship between how a high fever, and the probability of occurrence of an attack; seizures can occur even in the case of mild or moderate fever.
The causes of febrile seizures
Pediatricians are three most common infections that cause febrile seizures:
· Viral infections such as influenza or chicken pox;
· Infection of the middle ear (otitis media);
· Acute tonsillitis (angina).
Other infections that can cause an attack of cramps include:
· Gastroenteritis (an acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines, especially of viral origin, at least - microbial);
· Urinary tract infection (acute pyelonephritis or cystitis);
· Respiratory tract infection (bronchitis, pneumonia, laryngitis);
· Sepsis.
Important! In rare cases, febrile convulsions may occur after vaccination a child. Studies have shown that children have a probability of one case in 3000 - 4000 vaccinations form febrile seizures after MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella). The risk is even lower than when using DTP - probability of 1 to 11000-16000.
Febrile seizures are the most common type of seizures that occur in infants and children younger, and about 1 in 20 children at some point there is at least one of these attacks. About 40% of children whose seizures occur for the first time, subsequent infections with fever experienced a second bout of seizures. These attacks are more common in children aged 6 months to 3 years, with the period of maximum risk of falls in the second year of life.
The symptoms of febrile seizures
The main symptom of an attack of febrile seizures is a fit oznikayuschy during fever in a child. There are two forms of febrile seizures:
· Simple febrile seizures;
· Complex febrile seizures.
As a rule, during a simple attack of convulsions child's muscles are tensed, the body bends and makes ridiculous poses. The child loses consciousness, and his legs and arms were shaking vigorously. Children may also wet oneself or to empty the intestines, possible vomiting, tongue biting, foam mouth and eyes may rolling. The attack usually lasts from a few seconds to 10 minutes, and then the child can be drowsy to an hour.
A complex febrile seizure It lasts more than 15 minutes, and the symptoms may affect only one part of the body. In some cases, there is a recurrence of seizures within 24 hours or as long as the child is not well.
While simple febrile seizures can be frightening for those who are watching them, they are usually harmless and do not indicate a long-term health problems. There is no evidence that short febrile seizures cause brain damage, epilepsy or learning problems.
Long-term or multiple seizures associated with an increased risk of developing epilepsy. However, most children who suffer seizures, there are no recurring seizures that occur in epilepsy, and arise in the absence of fever.
What should parents do?
Most children febrile convulsions cease to 5 years, and few children have more than three episodes in their lifetime. As a precaution, parents in the development of attack need to call an ambulance and be sure to lower the body temperature during infection. After recovery, the child needs supervision by a neurologist and a complete examination to rule out neurological pathologies.
First aid during a febrile convulsive seizure
If the child has a fever and is formed by a seizure, you need to put it in a lying position, get away items that can hurt your baby. It is necessary to persistently stay with your child and try to note how long the attack. Do not put anything in the child's mouth during the attack time, including drugs, since there is a slight chance that children can bite your tongue or choke.
You should immediately call an ambulance if:
· Seizure arose for the first time and the baby is very small;
· Seizure lasts longer than five minutes and has no stop signs;
· Parents suspect that the attack caused by other serious illness - such as meningitis;
· The child has trouble breathing.
You should also consult your doctor or call an ambulance if the baby develops signs and symptoms of dehydration, lack of fluid in the body. They include:
· Dry mouth;
· Sunken eyes;
· Lack of tears when crying;
· Retraction of the fontanelle - the soft spot located on top of a small child's head.
Diagnostics
If the child is not clear cause of disease, may require additional tests, such as blood or urine. Further examination and observation in hospital is also usually recommended if the symptoms the child had unusual or any complex febrile seizures, especially if the baby has not reached 12 months. Tests that may be recommended to include:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG).
- Lumbar puncture.
Do I need treatment?
It is not recommended that a child prescribed medication to prevent further febrile seizures. This is due to the fact that the adverse side effects associated with many medications outweigh any risks of seizures themselves. Studies have shown that the use of drugs to combat fever is unlikely to prevent further febrile convulsions. However, there may be exceptional circumstances where it is recommended to take medication to prevent recurrent febrile seizures. For example, children may need medication if they have a low seizure threshold during illness, especially if seizures continue.
In this case, your child may be assigned to drugs such as diazepam or lorazepam, which must be taken at the beginning of the fever.
Children who have had febrile seizures after a routine vaccination is not more vulnerable to re-fit than kids who have had a seizure because of illness.
Complications febrile seizures
Febrile seizures are associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, as well as other problems. Recent research may indicate a link between febrile seizures and sudden unexplained death in childhood (SIDS), perhaps because of the association between febrile seizures and epilepsy. But this relationship has not been proven, and SIDS is incredibly rare, affecting about 1 in 100,000 children.
In one of the largest studies it has investigated more than 1.5 million children with febrile convulsion history, and it found no evidence of an increased risk of death in childhood or later in adulthood age.
Febrile seizures and epilepsy
Many parents worry that if their child had one or more episodes of febrile convulsions, he will develop epilepsy when he gets older. Epilepsy - is a condition in which a person has repeated seizures due to abnormal brain activity.
Although there is evidence that children who had a history of febrile seizures, have an increased risk of developing epilepsy, but it should be stressed that it is very small. According to experts, children with simple febrile seizures in the history of the likelihood of developing epilepsy later in life is 1 in 50. In children with complex febrile seizures, the likelihood of developing epilepsy later in life is 1 in 20. People who did not have febrile seizures, have a chance of 1 in 100.
Febrile seizures - this is not epilepsy, seizures and short will not cause brain damage. Even prolonged seizures rarely cause damage.
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