Febrile seizures: risks, assessment, and prognosis

Febrile seizures: risk, assessment, and prognosis

Febrile Seizures: Risks, Evaluation, and Prognosis

01.

summary

Febrile seizures are seizures that occur in children aged 6 months to 5 years with fever (100.
4°F or higher) but without central nervous system infection
.
Febrile seizures are divided into simple seizures and complex seizures
.
Complicated seizures lasting 15 minutes or more, correlated with focal neurologic findings, or recurring
within 24 hours.
The causes of febrile seizures may be multifactorial
.
Viral diseases, certain vaccinations, and genetic susceptibility are common risk factors that may affect the fragile, developing nervous system
under fever stress.
Well-performing children with uncomplicated febrile seizures do not require routine diagnostic tests (laboratory tests, neuroimaging, or EEG) unless the cause
of fever needs to be identified.
In children with complicated seizures, neurologic examination should be performed to guide further evaluation
.
For seizures lasting more than five minutes, benzodiazepines should be given
.
Febrile seizures are not
associated with increased long-term mortality, negative effects on future schooling, and negative effects on intelligence or behavior.
Children with febrile seizures are more likely to have recurrent febrile seizures
.
However, given the benign nature of febrile seizures, routine use of antiepileptic drugs is not recommended due to adverse effects of these drugs
.
The use of antipyretics does not reduce the risk of febrile seizures, although rectal administration of acetaminophen reduces the risk of
short-term recurrence after febrile seizures.
Parents should be educated about the good prognosis of children with febrile seizures and provided with practical guidance
on family management of seizures.

02.

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