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FEBRILE CONVULSIONS – FITS PRODUCED BY FEVER

What are Febrile Convulsions ?

A febrile convulsion is a fit caused by a fever (high temperature) in a child. During a fit the child may shake his arms and legs, go stiff, roll the eyes and become unconscious. They may wet themselves or bite their tongue. Fits may last just a few seconds or go on for longer. The child has lost consciousness and afterwards cannot remember the fit. For those around seeing a child have a fit can be very frightening.

How do Febrile Convulsions occur ?

A fit is caused by a problem with the normal electrical activity in the brain. During a fit waves of electrical activity cause the jerking movements and loss of consciousness. Particularly in a child, a high temperature can irritate the brain and cause a fit to start. Some children are more sensitive to temperature than others.

Why do Febrile Convulsions occur ?

It is not known why some children are more sensitive than others. There may be other members of the family who have had febrile convulsions.

Treatment Involved for Febrile Convulsions

If a child is having a fit, call for medical help. Lie him down away from anything that might hurt him. Place him on his side so that if he vomits he will not breathe it in. Do not put anything in his mouth or try to stop him jerking. After the fit, try to keep the child cool. Remove clothing, use an electrical fan if you have one. Sponge down with lukewarm water. Do not use cold water because it may actually slow down loss of heat from the body. Give paracetemol or ibuprofen syrup regularly. Check you have the right dose for your child’s age. Encourage the child to drink. If the child has never had a febrile convulsion before they should see a doctor. The doctor will look for a cause for the fever, which may need treatment. They will examine the child to make sure that there is not another cause for the convulsion. Blood tests might be taken and the child may be admitted to hospital for observation. If a child has had several febrile convulsions they may need more tests, and the doctor may suggest that the child takes anticonvulsant (anti-fit) medication to prevent them. Families may also be given medication (diazepam) to be given into the back passage, during a fit.

After Treatment for Febrile Convulsions

There is a chance that the child will have another fit next time they have a fever. Therefore, keep a bottle of paracetemol or ibuprofen in the house. Treat fevers at once with paracetemol or ibuprofen, taking off clothes and sponging with tepid water. Most children grow out of febrile convulsions by the age of 5 or 6 years and will not have more fits.

If Febrile Convulsions are Left Untreated

Most fits stop on their own. Most fits last only a few seconds or minutes and do not cause any lasting damage. If a child has a long fit there is a risk that this may cause damage through lack of oxygen. This is the reason for giving treatment to some children who have febrile convulsions.

Effects on Family of Febrile Convulsions

Fits can be extremely frightening to watch. Even very short fits can seem very long for a parent who is watching. Make sure the family knows what to do if the child has a fever again.