Febrile Seizures

1. Febrile Seizures Child Care Health Consultation Program Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and Your Local Health Department Reference: American Academy of Pediatrics www.healthychildren.org

2. What is a Febrile Seizure? • Caused by child having a fever • Happen in 3 or 4 of every 100 children ages 0 to 5, most often 12-18 month age group • If child is < 1 year of age, 50% chance is they could have another febrile seizure • If child is > 1 year of age, 30% chance they will have another • A very small number of children who have febrile seizures ever develop epilepsy

3. What is a Febrile Seizure? • Usually happen during first few hours of a fever • Child looks strange, stiffens, may twitch or roll eyes • May be unresponsive for a short time • Quickly returns to normal after the seizure • Usually last less than 1 minute, rarely will happen more than once in 24 hours

4. Are Febrile Seizures Dangerous? • They are scary, but will not harm the child • Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, nervous system problems, paralysis, intellectual disability, or death • Febrile seizures do not cause long term health problems

5. What Causes Fever? • Usually a sign of an infection somewhere in the body • A defense mechanism to help the body fight infections • Not all fevers need treatment • Note how child is behaving (eating, drinking, or listless)

6. Temperature Tips • Temperature is 100.4 degrees (F) or higher • Use a multipurpose digital thermometer to take temp • Use rectally if up to 3 years of age • Use orally for children 4-5 years and older • Or can take axillary (under arm)

7. Temperature Tips • Make sure you report the method (oral, rectal or under the arm) that you took the temperature • Any temp over 100.4 on children less than 12 weeks old should be reported to their doctor • Any temp over 104 on any age should be reported to a doctor

8. Tips for Treating Fevers • Keep the child dressed comfortably—layers of light clothes, but not smothered • Make sure they get fluids to avoid getting dehydrated—dehydration can become serious quickly in young children

9. Tips for Treating Fevers When to Call the Doctor • Child is younger than 2 to 4 months old and has a fever. • Child is lethargic, unresponsive, refuses to eat, has a rash, or is having difficulty breathing. • You observe signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, a sunken soft spot, or significantly fewer wet diapers. • Child’s fever lasts more than a few days. • Child experiences a febrile seizure

10. What to Do During a Febrile Seizure • Remain calm • Move child to floor, or place away from hard or sharp objects • Do not put anything in their mouth • Turn their head to the side so that they don’t choke on fluids in their mouth • Call the doctor • If seizure doesn’t stop in 5 minutes, call 911 or local emergency number

11. Treatment for Fevers • It is important for the doctor to find the cause for the fever which caused the seizure—to rule out serious infections such as meningitis • If medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are used to reduce the fever, make sure dosage is correct as prescribed by the doctor

12. Treatment for Fevers • Fever lowering medicines can reduce the fever but they don’t prevent the seizures--the seizures are caused by the fever • Remember it is important to prevent dehydration—so make sure the child is able to take plenty of fluids

13. Review • Seizure and Epilepsy Basics • Epileptic seizure triggers • Seizure Disorders • Febrile Seizures • First Aid

14. Resources • Epilepsy Foundation http://www.epilepsy.com/ • American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Fever-Without-Fear.aspx