Can febrile convulsions be fatal?
The first febrile seizure can be frightening for parents. Most parents are afraid that their child will die or have brain damage. However, simple febrile seizures are harmless. There is no evidence that they cause death, brain damage, epilepsy, or learning problems.
What does a seizure in an 18 month old look like?
The most commonly recognized signs of a seizure are when the body stiffens and shakes. These types of convulsive seizures (generalized tonic-clonic or “grand mal” seizures) can cause a person to fall and injure themselves, bite their tongue or lose control of the bladder or bowel.
At what temperature do febrile seizures occur?
Febrile seizures are convulsions that occur in a child who is between six months and five years of age and has a temperature greater than 100.4º F (38º C). The majority of febrile seizures occur in children between 12 and 18 months of age. Febrile seizures can be frightening to watch.
Do toddlers cry during seizures?
Your child may just stop being aware of what’s going on around him or her. Your child may look awake, but have a variety of unusual behaviors. These may range from gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, or laughing. Your child may be tired or sleepy after the seizure.
Is there a difference between a seizure and a convulsion?
A convulsion is a general term that people use to describe uncontrollable muscle contractions. Some people may use it interchangeably with the word “seizure,” although a seizure refers to an electrical disturbance in the brain. Seizures may cause a person to have convulsions, but this is not always the case.
Do febrile seizures lead to epilepsy?
Febrile seizures have been linked to an increased risk of epilepsy. Many parents worry that if their child has one or more febrile seizures, they’ll develop epilepsy when they get older. Epilepsy is a condition where a person has repeated seizures without a fever.
How do you control a febrile seizure?
Treatment
- Place your child on his or her side on a soft, flat surface where he or she won’t fall.
- Start timing the seizure.
- Stay close to watch and comfort your child.
- Remove hard or sharp objects near your child.
- Loosen tight or restrictive clothing.
- Don’t restrain your child or interfere with your child’s movements.
Can a febrile seizure happen during sleep?
A febrile seizure may occur at night when you and your child are sleeping. Since brief febrile seizures do not cause harm, missing a brief seizure is not important. The noises of a long febrile seizure would almost certainly awaken you.