Medical Health Encyclopedia

Febrile seizures

A complex febrile seizure is one that lasts longer than 15 minutes, occurs in an isolated part of the body, or recurs during the same illness.

About a third of children who have had a febrile seizure will have another one with a subsequent fever. Of those who do, about half will have a third seizure. Few children have more than three febrile seizures in their lifetime.

If there is a family history, if the first seizure happened before 12 months of age, or if the seizure happened with a fever below 102, a child is more likely to fall in the group that has more than one febrile seizure.

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References:

Zupanc M. The first seizure in childhood: Don’t just do something, stand there! Neurology. 2005; 64(5): 774-775.

Warren CR. Evaluation and management of febrile seizures in the out-of-hospital and emergency department settings. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41(2): 215-222.

Jankowiak J. Seizures in children with fever: Generally good outcome. Neurology. 2003; 60(2): E1-2.

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