Febrile seizures are the most common seizure disorder in children, occurring in those aged 6 months to 5 years, characterized by a fever without central nervous system infection. The document discusses types of febrile seizures, their risk factors, and evaluation methods, including when to perform lumbar puncture and EEG. It also addresses treatment options, emphasizing that antiepileptic therapy is generally not recommended, and advising on how to manage febrile seizures at home.

1. Diaa Mohammad Srahin
6th year Medical Student
Al-Quds University
Pediatrics
January / 2019
Hebron Governmental Hospital

2. Febrile seizures
 A “febrile seizure” or “febrile convulsion” is a seizure
accompanied by a fever in the absence of intracranial
infection.
Febrile seizures are seizures that
 occur between the age of 6 months and 5 years or 6 years
 with a temperature of 38°C or higher
 that are not the result of central nervous system infection or
any metabolic imbalance.
 and that occur in the absence of a history of prior afebrile
seizures

3.  The most common seizure disorder during
childhood.
 The incidence approaches 3–4% of young children.
Simple febrile seizures
 Generalized at onset usually tonic–clonic
 Last less than 15 minutes,
 Occur only once in a 24-hour period.
 In a neurologically and developmentally normal child.

4. Complex or atypical febrile seizure.
 If there are focal features.
 Seizure lasts longer than 15 minutes .
 Recurs within 24 hours.
 If the child has preexisting neurologic challenges.
Febrile status epilepticus is a febrile seizure lasting
longer than 30 min.

5. Simple vs. Complex seizure

6. 30–50% of children have recurrent seizures with later episodes of fever
Note
 < 12 months at 1st attack : 50% 2nd attack
 > 12 months at 1st attack : 30% 2nd attack
 Those with 2nd attack : 50% at least one another attack.
 Although approximately 15% of children with epilepsy have had febrile
seizures.
 only 2-7% of children who experience febrile seizures proceed to develop
epilepsy later in life.

7. Possible explanation of febrile seizure

8. Risk Factors for Febrile Seizures

9. Risk Factors for Recurrence of Febrile Seizure
Risk Factors for Recurrence of Febrile Seizure
Major
• Age < 1 year
• Duration of fever < 24 hours
• Fever 38-39°C
Minor
• Family history of febrile seizures
• Family history of epilepsy
• Complex febrile seizure
• Daycare
• Male gender
• Lower serum sodium at time of presentation

10. Risk Factors for Occurrence of Subsequent Epilepsy
After a Febrile Seizure
Risk Factor Risk for subsequent
epilepsy
Simple febrile seizure 1 %
Recurrent febrile seizures 4 %
Complex febrile seizures (more than 15
minutes duration or recurrent within 24
hours)
6 %
Fever < 1 hour before febrile seizure 11 %
Family history of epilepsy 18 %
Complex febrile seizures (focal) 29 %
Neurodevelopmental abnormalities 33 %

11. Genetic Factors
 The genetic contribution to the incidence of febrile
seizures is manifested by a positive family history for
febrile seizures in many patients.
 In some families, the disorder is inherited as an
autosomal dominant trait
 Multiple single genes that cause the disorder have
been identified in such families.

12. Evaluation
 Each child who presents with a febrile seizure requires a
detailed history and a thorough general and
neurologic examination.
 Febrile seizures often occur in the context of otitis media,
roseola and human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 infection,
shigella, or similar infections, making the evaluation more
demanding.
 In patients with febrile status, HHV-6B (more frequently)
and HHV-7 infections were found to account for one-third
of the cases.

14. Lumbar Puncture
 Meningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis .
 Seizure-induced CSF abnormalities are rare in children and all
patients with abnormal CSF after a seizure should be thoroughly
evaluated for other causes.
Indication of LP
 lumbar puncture should be performed for all infants younger
than 6 months of age who present with fever and seizure
 Or if the child is ill appearing.
 Or at any age if there are clinical signs or symptoms of concern.

15. Optional LP
 A lumbar puncture is an option in a child 6 - 12 months
of age who is deficient in Haemophilus inflenzae type b
and Streptococcus pneumoniae immunizations
 or for whom immunization status is unknown.
 A lumbar puncture is an option in children who have
been pretreated with antibiotics.

16. Electroencephalogram
 If the child is presenting with the first simple febrile
seizure and is otherwise neurologically healthy, an EEG
need not normally be performed as part of the evaluation.
 An EEG would not predict the future recurrence of febrile
seizures or epilepsy even if the result is abnormal.
 EEG is not warranted after a simple febrile seizure but
complex seizure or with other risk factors for later epilepsy

17. Blood Studies
 Blood studies (serum electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium, and complete blood count) are not routinely
recommended in the work-up of a child with a first simple
febrile seizure.
 Blood glucose should be determined in children with
prolonged postictal obtundation or with poor oral intake
(prolonged fasting).
 Serum electrolyte values may be abnormal in children after
a febrile seizure, but this should be suggested by
precipitating or predisposing conditions elicited in the
history and reflected in abnormalities of the physical
examination.

18. Blood Studies
 If clinically indicated (e.g., in a history or physical
examination suggesting dehydration), these tests
should be performed.
 A low sodium level is associated with higher risk of
recurrence of the febrile seizure within the following
24 hr.

19. Neuroimaging
 A CT or MRI is not recommended in evaluating the child after a first
simple febrile seizure.
 The work-up of children with complex febrile seizures needs to be
individualized.
 This can include an EEG and neuroimaging, particularly if the child is
neurologically abnormal.
 Approximately 11% of children with febrile status epilepticus are
reported to have (usually) unilateral swelling of their hippocampus
acutely, which is followed by subsequent long-term hippocampal
atrophy. Whether these patients will ultimately develop temporal lobe
epilepsy remains to be determined

20. TREATMENT
 In general, antiepileptic therapy, continuous or intermittent, is not
recommended for children with 1 or more simple febrile seizures.
 Parents should be counseled about the relative risks of recurrence of
febrile seizures and recurrence of epilepsy, educated on how to handle
a seizure acutely, and given emotional support.
 If the seizure lasts for longer than 5 min, acute treatment with
diazepam, lorazepam, or midazolam is needed .
 Rectal diazepam is often prescribed to be given at the time of
reoccurrence of a febrile seizure lasting longer than 5 min.
 Alternatively, buccal or intranasal midazolam may be used and is often
preferred by parents. Intravenous benzodiazepines, phenobarbital,
phenytoin, or valproate may be needed in the case of febrile status
epilepticus

21.  Because of the potential for side effects, daily administration of
anticonvulsant medication is not recommended.
 Administration of antipyretics during febrile illnesses does not prevent
febrile seizures.
 Antipyretics can decrease the discomfort of the child but do not reduce
the risk of having a recurrent febrile seizure, probably because the
seizure often occurs as the temperature is rising or falling.

22.  Chronic antiepileptic therapy may be considered
for children with a high risk for later epilepsy.
 Currently available data indicate that the
possibility of future epilepsy does not change with
or without antiepileptic therapy.
 Iron deficiency is associated with an increased
risk of febrile seizures, and thus screening for that
problem and treating it appears appropriate.