Febrile Convulsions (1)

Question 1

What is this?

How common is it?

How does it affect the chance of developing epilepsy in the future?

How does it typically present?

Answer 1

➊ Seizures associated with a fever in children between 6 months – 5 yrs

➋ Relatively common and 1 in 3 children will have at least one more episode

➌ Doesn’t hugely increase the risk of epilepsy in the future (~1% overall)

➍ Short-lived and tonic-clonic

N.B. The most common cause of it is roseola infantum caused by human herpes virus 6.

Question 2

What is the most common type?
→ How does it affect risk of epilepsy?

What is the other type?
→ How does it affect risk of epilepsy?

Answer 2

➊ Simple – Generalised, tonic-clonic seizures lasting < 15 mins and occurs once during a single febrile illness
→ Very small risk of developing epilepsy (~2%)

➋ Complex – Partial or focal seizures lasting > 15 mins or occur multiple times during a single febrile illness
→ Higher risk of developing epilepsy (4-12%)

Question 3

How is it managed?

Answer 3

• Same as all other seizures
• Look for source of underlying infection
• Further investigations if complex type
• Safety net advice for parents if another episode occurs