Fever is arguably the most common sign in babies. According to statistics, children who go to the hospital with fever generally account for 10% to 15% of all outpatient visits, and many of them are admitted to the hospital in an emergency because of fever convulsions.
There are many reasons for children’s convulsions, including febrile convulsions, epilepsy, electrolyte disorders, etc. Among them, febrile convulsions are the most common cause of children’s convulsions.
What are febrile convulsions?
Febrile Seizure, also known as “convulsions”, is not simply a “convulsion” (seizure) that occurs with a “fever”.
Febrile seizure is a condition that occurs in infancy (often between the ages of 3 months and 6 years) when a sudden rise in body temperature causes abnormal firing activity in the brain, resulting in generalized muscle spasms. Moreover, febrile convulsions can only be diagnosed after intracranial infection or other definite causes have been excluded.
Previously, febrile convulsions cannot be diagnosed if they have occurred without fever.
Are febrile convulsions related to epilepsy?
Many parents are frightened and distressed when they see their child convulsing so much: how does this look so much like epilepsy?
Although the symptoms of febrile convulsions and epilepsy are relatively similar, they are not the same disease.
Febrile convulsions can be divided into simple and complex types. Simple febrile convulsions are most often seen in children 6 months to 3 years of age and tend to occur within 24 hours of fever. The duration of the convulsion is usually less than 5 minutes and does not recur within 24 hours. After a convulsion, the child has a normal EEG and normal physical and mental development. Most children who have febrile convulsions are simple and generally have a good prognosis with few sequelae. The chance of seizures decreases with age.
Convulsions can really turn into epilepsy, but the probability is very low
Complex febrile convulsions can occur in children younger than 6 months or older than 6 years of age. They can also occur with low-grade fever (<38°C), seizures lasting more than 15 minutes, two or more seizures within 24 hours, and more than five recurrences.
Complex febrile convulsions may partially turn into epilepsy and may require long-term treatment. Febrile convulsions that are repeated or last too long may cause damage to the brain and leave sequelae.
However, parents do not need to be overly stressed because the chance of febrile convulsions turning into epilepsy is low.
Studies have found that only 2-10% of children with febrile convulsions evolve into epilepsy. With careful parental care and regular treatment by doctors, most babies do not have sequelae after febrile convulsions.
These babies are prone to febrile convulsions.
The following are the main cases at present.
genetic factors: about 33.7% of affected children have a family history, and studies have also confirmed the genetic location of inheritance; in other words, children whose mothers and fathers had febrile convulsions as children are often likely to have febrile convulsions as well.
delayed neurological development: the child’s brain is immature and overly sensitive to hyperthermia, which can easily cause convulsive seizures
low immune system function: studies have found that children with febrile convulsions have low immunoglobulins.
First aid knowledge that mom and dad should have.
What should I do if my baby accidentally has a febrile convulsion? Mom and dad should not panic too much, try to stay calm, and follow the following steps.
Lay the baby flat in bed or on a flat area to prevent falling or bruising.
Turn his head to the side to promote the expulsion of saliva or vomit.
do not put anything in his mouth, as tongue bites rarely occur
Do not pinch or force the flap to straighten a bent limb; this will not end the seizure and will only increase the injury.
Get to the hospital promptly. Most children with convulsions have short seizures, usually no more than 10-15+ minutes, and if the seizures persist, they should be seen by a hospital promptly.
To prevent recurrence, be sure to know these
After the first occurrence of febrile convulsions, 30% to 40% of babies are likely to have another seizure, 75% of babies have another seizure within 1 year and 90% within 2 years. So do a good job of prevention and control to prevent another seizure is what parents have to do.
1. Strengthen nutrition and do more outdoor activities
Cold is the most common cause of fever in babies, so it is necessary to strengthen nutrition, regular outdoor activities to strengthen the body and improve resistance, in addition to avoid catching cold, less crowded areas, etc.
2.When the body temperature reaches 38℃, you should actively reduce the fever
The methods of fever reduction include physical fever reduction and drug fever reduction. Mom and dad should not wait for the temperature to reach 39 ℃ or already convulsions before remembering to reduce fever.
3, there are 2 febrile convulsions, or a convulsion lasts more than 15 minutes, hurry to use drugs
Children with two febrile convulsions, or a single convulsion lasting > 15 minutes can take a short course of intermittent medication, that is, the use of anticonvulsant drugs when the body temperature exceeds 37.5 ℃, the body temperature is normal after the discontinuation of drugs.
4, long-term use of anticonvulsant drugs, more than 2 years after the cessation of convulsive seizures and then slowly reduce the amount of drug discontinuation
This method is mainly suitable for babies with the following conditions: the use of short intermittent medication is ineffective; ≥ 4 times history of febrile convulsions; ≥ 2 times history of hypothermic convulsions (<38℃); no history of febrile convulsions; single convulsion duration > 15 minutes or persistent status; epilepsy risk factors, such as a family history of epilepsy, intracranial infection, etc.