Patient's question:
Patient Gender:Female
Detailed Condition and Purpose of Consultation: My daughter has seizures whenever her fever reaches 39°C. I am concerned about whether she might develop epilepsy in the future.
Onset and Duration of This Episode: My daughter began experiencing seizures around 10:00 PM on December 31, 2005, and was taken to the hospital. She was discharged around 4:00 AM on January 1 when her temperature was mostly under control. However, in the following days, her temperature would be normal in the morning but rise again in the afternoon, reaching around 39°C. Later, the hospital diagnosed her with bronchopneumonia in children.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Febrile seizures are a common symptom in infants and young children under 3 years old, most commonly occurring in infants aged 6 months to 3 years. They often occur during acute upper respiratory tract infections, with a higher incidence in males than females. Most cases do not recur after the age of 3-5. The onset of febrile seizures is primarily due to the immature development of the child's nervous system, compounded by infection and fever. Febrile seizures have a genetic tendency and are prone to recurrence, with a recurrence rate of 50% within the first year of life. Repeated episodes of febrile seizures can lead to brain damage, which may result in intellectual disability, behavioral disorders, paralysis, or the development of epilepsy.Characteristics of febrile seizures:
1. Seizures occur in children without central nervous system infection when they have a high fever of 38.5°C or above, especially 39°C or higher. The seizures are generalized, often sudden onset, loss of consciousness, fixed or upward rolling of the eyeballs, head extension, and involuntary or tonic muscle contractions in the limbs. The corners of the mouth or facial muscles may also twitch. There may be apnea, and the child may appear cyanotic or pale. The duration is short, generally less than 10 minutes.
2. Seizures typically occur within 24 hours of the onset of high fever, especially within 12 hours, when the temperature rises rapidly.
3. Consciousness recovers quickly after the seizure, with no abnormal neurological signs.
4. If the child has a history of febrile seizures or the family has a history of them, the seizure usually occurs only once and does not recur after the fever subsides.
5. The child's age is between 6 months and 5 years.
6. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is normal during the seizure-free interval.
Home care for febrile seizures:
1. Handling during an episode: