Patient's question:
What is a high fever seizureDoctor's answer:
High fever convulsions, also known as fever-induced convulsions, refer to a condition where the body temperature exceeds 37°C, which is commonly referred to as a fever in daily life. Fever can be categorized into low-grade fever (37°C to 38.5°C) and high fever (above 38.5°C). Fever in children is the most common symptom, as their bodies are in the stage of growth and development, and their nervous systems are not yet fully developed. Therefore, during high fever, it is easy to trigger convulsions, commonly known as "fits." The primary cause of convulsions in children is high fever. Why do children often get fever? According to traditional Chinese medicine, children have the physiological characteristic of "excess yang" and the pathological mechanism of "easily transforming yang into heat." As a result, children are prone to develop heat-related conditions when suffering from external pathogens, leading to fever. Additionally, many acute and chronic diseases can cause fever in children. When parents encounter a feverish child, they should first take them to a pediatric department of the hospital for a diagnosis to determine the cause of the fever and provide symptomatic treatment. Convulsions are a secondary complication of high fever in children. When dealing with a child with high fever, especially those aged 6 months to 3 years, parents should closely monitor the child's temperature and physical condition to prevent convulsions. Before a convulsion occurs, there may be warning signs such as jerky movements, tremors, drowsiness, or restlessness. However, most convulsions involve sudden loss of consciousness, with the head tilted backward, eyes staring upward or sideways, frothing at the mouth, and involuntary muscle stiffness and spasms in the face and limbs. Urinary and fecal incontinence may occur, with the duration of the attack ranging from several seconds to several minutes. In some cases, convulsions may recur, even leading to a prolonged state. Severe attacks or prolonged convulsions may cause the face, lips, and nails to turn purple, accompanied by a rattling sound in the throat, and even asphyxiation, which can be life-threatening. For children experiencing high fever convulsions at home, parents should not panic. They should immediately apply pressure to the child's nose bridge (Ren Zhong acupoint), the webbing between the thumb and index finger (He Gu acupoint), and the inner wrist (Nei Guan acupoint) with their fingernails. The child should then be placed in a prone position to prevent saliva or mucus from entering the airway before being rushed to the pediatric emergency department for treatment. The key to preventing high fever convulsions lies in reducing fever, as once the fever subsides, the convulsions will stop. When a child aged 6 to 3 years develops a high fever (above 38.5°C), active fever reduction methods should be employed. Fever reduction can be categorized into two types: physical and medicinal.Physical Fever Reduction:
1. Bathing: There are two types of bathing: alcohol bathing and warm water bathing. Common medical alcohol should be mixed with an appropriate amount of warm water. A soft cloth should be dampened with the alcohol mixture, which should be around 37°C. The child's palms, soles, armpits, groin, and other areas should be wiped. When using warm water bathing, the water temperature should be slightly higher than the body temperature. The bath can be either a shower or a wipe. However, the duration should be short, and the child should be quickly dried and dressed to prevent recooling and worsening the condition.
2. Ice Pillows: Fever and convulsions can have certain effects on the brain. Therefore, when a child has a high fever, an ice bag should be placed on their head or forehead to lower the head temperature and protect the brain.
Medicinal Fever Reduction:
1. Aphen Tablets (Arphen): Aphen tablets, also known as Aruphen, consist of two drugs: aspirin, a common antipyretic and analgesic, and phenobarbital, a sedative used to calm the mind and stop convulsions. Aphen tablets are suitable for children aged 1 to 5. A child aged 8-9 months should take half a tablet, a child aged 1.5 years should take one tablet, a child aged 3 should take 1.5 tablets, and a child aged 4-5 should take two tablets. It is important to note that antipyretic drugs should only be used when the body temperature is above 38.5°C. If the temperature remains above 38.5°C, the drug can be administered every 4 hours. After taking the medication, the child should drink plenty of water, as sweating is necessary for the body temperature to decrease.
2. Traditional Chinese Medicine: Niuhuang Qingre San (Bezoar Powder for Clearing Heat), Zisuosan (Purple Snow Powder), and Jiuji San (Emergency Powder) are all effective for reducing fever and stopping convulsions, with the advantage of minimal side effects. They can be given to high fever patients at home. However, these medications are bitter and cold, and are suitable for those with symptoms of high fever, red face, bad breath, and constipation. If the fever is present but the stool is not formed, these medications should not be used. They should be stopped once the effect is observed and should not be taken for an extended period, as prolonged use can affect the child's appetite. Children with convulsions should avoid foods rich in fat and other heavy flavors and should instead be given vegetarian liquid diets. After the condition improves, nutrient-rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sweet potato starch can be gradually added. Seasonal adjustments can be made, such as giving watermelon juice, tomato juice, or orange juice in summer, and fresh orange juice or apple puree in winter. For excessive phlegm, white radish juice or water chestnut juice can be given.