Febrile convulsion - a self review

What is a febrile convulsion?

A febrile seizure, or febrile convulsion, usually occurs in young children between the ages of 6 months and around 6 years old when there is a significant increase in their body temperature. They are twice as common in boys as in girls. A child who is at risk may naturally has a lower resistance to febrile convulsion compared to others.

I personally experienced it during my toddler stage and most of the time my parents sent me to our private doctor to eased the seizure. I remember one time that I got a fever, maybe I was 5 or 6 years old then, I noticed that the walls in our room were revolving and I got dizzy. It was my father who told me when I came back to my consciousness that I had a seizure.

How does a child acquire febrile convulsion?

Study shows that febrile convulsion is normally inherited by children from their parents. If either parent suffered a febrile seizure during childhood, the risk of the child acquiring it rises from 10 to 20 per cent. If both parents and their child have at some point suffered a febrile seizure, the risk of another child acquiring it rises from 20 to 30 per cent. About 4 out of 10 children who have had febrile seizures will get them again at some stage although the risk differs greatly from child to child.

What causes febrile convulsion?

The direct cause of febrile seizure in not yet known but it is associated with upper respiratory infection or gastroenteritis. Never wrap a child suffering from febrile seizure with a warm blanket because it will only increase the fever and therefore the risk. Symptoms include stiffness of the body and the twitching of the arms and legs. The victim will go unconscious although the eyes remain open. The skin goes pale and turn blue. Vomiting and increase secretions in the mouth occurs while breathing is irregular. Sometimes a child get wet or soil themselves. The seizure normally lasts for less than five minutes leaving the child limp and has no strength at all.

What to do when a child suffers febrile seizure attack?

I was told by my father and mother that they normally placed a spoon in my mouth when I got an attack in febrile seizure in order not to bite my lips or tongue and will allow me to breathe air. But study says that it is not allowed because it will only damage the child's teeth. To prevent choking, carefully turn the child's head to one side.

What is the treatment of febrile seizure?

The best way to manage febrile seizure is to control the temperature with paracetamol or by sponging. I was told by my father that a face towel soak in cold water should be regularly placed at the armpit and forehead to reduce the fever. Anti-convulsants like Sodium valproate or clonazepam are active against febrile seizures, with sodium valproate showing superiority over clonazepam can also be administered with a doctor's prescription.

How to prevent febrile seizure?

If a child has fever, regularly check and monitor the body temperature. Paracetamol is safe to help lower the body temperature. Place a face towel soak in cold water at the forehead and armpit if possible. It is advised to see the doctor as early as possible when the body temperature rise rapidly.