They are defined as seizures during fever ,occurring
between 6 months and 5 years of age in the absence of
infection of CNS , in a neurologically normal child.
They are frequently genetically determined.
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The convulsions are not related to the degree oftemperature, but are frequent if temperature rises
rapidly.
Febrile convulsions are of 2 types
:Simple febrile convulsions
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:Atypical febrile convulsionsSimple febrile convulsions
:seizure occur within 24 hour after the onset
of fever, last less than 15min and are usually single per
febrile episode
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:convulsions are generalised:there is no postictal neurological deficit
Atypical /complex febrile convulsions
:Lasts more than 15mins /multiple episodes occur
within 24hrs
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:generally seizures are focal? A febrile seizure that lasts more than 30mins is called
febrile status epilepticus.It occurs in upto 5% febrile
seizures
Differentiation from meningitis
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Infections of CNS like meningitis ,encephalitis can alsocause convulsions associated with convulsions .
Lumbar puncture is done in first episode of febrile
seizures ,in infants below 1year who are not
immunized with Hib and pneumococcal vaccine/if
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immunization status is not known/if meningitis issuspected.
Investigations
Lumbar puncture: done in children below 12months
of age after first febrile seizure to rule out meningitis.
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:children between 12-18 months of age also considered as clinicalsigns of meningitis maybe subtle in this group
:for more than 18 months of age its is done in the presence of
clinical signs and symptoms of meningitis [stiff neck, kernig sign]
or if history or clinical examination suggest intracranial infection
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Electroencephalogram
? if first febrile seizure and neurological y healthy then not
required
? If done then usual y done after 2 weeks of seizure.
? Done for at least 30 min of wakefulness and sleep to avoid
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misinterpretations? Can be done in cases where risk of epilepsy Is high
? if the seizure is prolonged ,then EEG can help distinguish
between ongoing seizure activity and a prolonged postictal
period termed as non epileptic twilight state[NETS]
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Blood studies
qCBC
qBlood glucose for children with postictal obtundation
or those with poor oral meal
qSerum electrolytes
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Neuroimaging? CT
? MRI
Treatment of febrile seizures
q Thorough history and detailed general and neurological
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examination must be done.1. Reduction of temperature by
:antipyretics
:hydro therapy
2. Maintain airway , breathing and circulation
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3.If seizure lasts for>5min then acute treatment withdiazepam/ lorazepam/midazolam is needed
4.Rectal diazepam is given for recurrence of seizures lasting
for>5min
5.If parents are anxious then intermittent oral diazepam can
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be given during the febrile seizures[.33mg/kg every 8 hrduring fever]
6.For prolonged convulsions i.v access
: for hydration
:anticonvulsants
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7.Iron therapy is done incase of febrile seizure because manystudies have shown that they were associated with low
serum iron.
Prophylaxis
2 types : continuous
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: intermittentIntermittent prophylaxis
done when : 3 or more febrile seizures in 6 months/6 or
more in 1 year /febrile seizure lasting for more than 15
min/need drugs to control seizures
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Includes: clobazam {.75mg/kg/day}:antipyretics
:hydrotherapy
:temperature recording
Continuous Prophylaxis
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done when : failure of intermittent therapy:recurrent atypical seizure
:patient cannot promptly recognize onset
of fever
vSodium valproate{10-20mg/kg/day}
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vPhenobarbitone{3-5mh/kg/day}vDuration of therapy : for 1-2 year / until 5 years of age.
Prognosis
Risk factors for epilepsy
?Major : age <1 year
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:duration of fevr <24hr:Fever 38-39 degree celsius
?Minor: family h/o febrile seizures
:family h/o epilepsy-generalised epilepsy with
febrile seizures+[GEFS+] and Dravet syndrome/severe
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myoclonic epilepsy of infancy:complex febrile seizure
:day care
:male gender
:lower serum sodium
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Risk % for reccurrence
?No risk factors -12 %
?1 risk factor-25-50%
?2 risk factor-50-59%
?3 or more ? 73-100%
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Risk of occurrence of subsequent epilepsy
Simple febrile seizure -1%
Neurodevelopmental abnormalities-33%
Focal complex febrile seizures-29%
Family history of epilepsy -18%
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Fever <1hr before febrile seizure-11%Complex febrile seizure anytype-6%
Recurrent febrile seizure -4%
Management of risk
Low risk-no therapy or investigations are required.
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High risk-EEG and imaging-Intermittent oral diazepam / for recurrence
give continuous therapy.