Patient's question:
My son just turned one year old. Yesterday afternoon, I took him out to play for a while and then came back. As soon as we got back, I noticed my son wasn't feeling well. I didn't pay much attention at first, but then I realized he was feverish all over. Suddenly, my son started having convulsions and rolling his eyes. What could be wrong?Doctor's answer:
This condition is known as febrile convulsions, which literally means convulsions accompanied by high fever, caused by high fever. The initial onset of febrile convulsions occurs between 6 months and 6 years of age, with very few infants under 6 months experiencing febrile convulsions. During the special age stage of 6 months to 3 years, the brain is undergoing rapid development in terms of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and other aspects, and the balance between the excitatory and inhibitory systems is unstable. This makes it easier to develop febrile convulsions. Statistics show that 3% of children between 6 months and 5 years experience one or more episodes. The temperature during an episode is usually above 39°C, although it may not always be noticed by parents. Convulsions are often discovered only after seeking medical attention and finding high fever. Febrile convulsions are not necessarily epilepsy, as only 2% to 5% of affected children are at risk of developing epilepsy later in life. An electroencephalogram (EEG) can help in confirming the diagnosis. Simple febrile convulsions do not require long-term use of antiepileptic drugs; timely cooling can prevent the occurrence of convulsions.