Febrile seizures are seizures caused by a rapid increase in body temperature, with a fever higher than 38 C or 100.4 F, without any underlying seizure-provoking causes or disorders, such as central nervous system infections, electrolyte imbalances, drug withdrawal, trauma, genetic susceptibility, or known epilepsy.
Simple and complicated febrile seizures are the two types of febrile seizures.
Epidemiology
A general definition of a febrile seizure in children ranges from 6 months to 60 months (5 years). However, the actual age range varies significantly throughout the medical literature.
Up to 4% of children in this age range get febrile seizures, which are quite prevalent. Some children only experience one febrile seizure, while others experience several episodes throughout early childhood.
Anatomy
Pathophysiology
A febrile seizure is the immature brain’s age-dependent response to a fever. The development of the brain results in an increase in neuronal excitability, which puts the child at risk for febrile seizures. As a result, febrile seizures primarily affect young children under the age of 3 since their seizure threshold is low.
The precise pathophysiology of febrile seizures is unknown. 10% to 20% of first-degree relatives of individuals with febrile seizures also experience febrile seizures, indicating a genetic predisposition. There is no known inheritance pattern in particular.
Etiology
When a child has a temperature of more than 38 C (100.4 F) and no other seizure-inducing etiologies, they have febrile seizures. Since every child’s threshold convulsive temperature differs, the maximum fever intended to trigger febrile seizures is specific to each individual. Frequent febrile seizures frequently happen when the patient’s temperature increases, even if the severity of the fever is ultimately the most important cause.
A febrile seizure may be a child’s initial disease indicator, with the discovery of a temperature higher than 38 degrees coming later. Although no one cause of fever is more likely to result in febrile seizures, viral infections rather than bacterial are more frequently linked to febrile seizures. HHV-6 is frequently linked to febrile seizures in the United States and Europe.
The influenza A virus has frequently been linked in Asian nations to febrile seizures. Any sufficiently high temperature may bring on a febrile seizure. Postnatal corticosteroid therapy significantly increases the risk of febrile seizures in premature children. Alcohol and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with a marginally higher incidence of febrile seizures.
Stress during pregnancy or the first few months of life can train the developing brain in ways that increase neuronal excitability and reduce the seizure threshold. Other risk factors include exposure to road noise and air pollution near the residence.
Genetics
Prognostic Factors
About 30% of children with febrile seizures in the past continue to have an elevated risk of having another febrile seizure. A second febrile seizure during the first year is 50% more likely in children under 12 months at the time of the first one. Within a year, this risk drops to 30%.
A family history of febrile seizures, low temperature at the time of the seizure, and a shorter time between the fever and the seizure may also point to a higher likelihood of subsequent febrile seizures, in addition to the young age at the time of the first seizure. The risk of febrile seizures recurring, however, is not always increased by characteristics linked to complicated febrile seizures.
Children with uncomplicated febrile seizures are around 1% to 2% more likely than the general population to develop epilepsy in the future. The risk of epilepsy increases (5–10%) in children with complicated febrile seizures, poor neurodevelopment, or family history. There is no evidence that febrile seizures are associated with intellect deficits or learning difficulties.
Febrile seizures are seizures caused by a rapid increase in body temperature, with a fever higher than 38 C or 100.4 F, without any underlying seizure-provoking causes or disorders, such as central nervous system infections, electrolyte imbalances, drug withdrawal, trauma, genetic susceptibility, or known epilepsy.
Simple and complicated febrile seizures are the two types of febrile seizures.
A general definition of a febrile seizure in children ranges from 6 months to 60 months (5 years). However, the actual age range varies significantly throughout the medical literature.
Up to 4% of children in this age range get febrile seizures, which are quite prevalent. Some children only experience one febrile seizure, while others experience several episodes throughout early childhood.
A febrile seizure is the immature brain’s age-dependent response to a fever. The development of the brain results in an increase in neuronal excitability, which puts the child at risk for febrile seizures. As a result, febrile seizures primarily affect young children under the age of 3 since their seizure threshold is low.
The precise pathophysiology of febrile seizures is unknown. 10% to 20% of first-degree relatives of individuals with febrile seizures also experience febrile seizures, indicating a genetic predisposition. There is no known inheritance pattern in particular.
When a child has a temperature of more than 38 C (100.4 F) and no other seizure-inducing etiologies, they have febrile seizures. Since every child’s threshold convulsive temperature differs, the maximum fever intended to trigger febrile seizures is specific to each individual. Frequent febrile seizures frequently happen when the patient’s temperature increases, even if the severity of the fever is ultimately the most important cause.
A febrile seizure may be a child’s initial disease indicator, with the discovery of a temperature higher than 38 degrees coming later. Although no one cause of fever is more likely to result in febrile seizures, viral infections rather than bacterial are more frequently linked to febrile seizures. HHV-6 is frequently linked to febrile seizures in the United States and Europe.
The influenza A virus has frequently been linked in Asian nations to febrile seizures. Any sufficiently high temperature may bring on a febrile seizure. Postnatal corticosteroid therapy significantly increases the risk of febrile seizures in premature children. Alcohol and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with a marginally higher incidence of febrile seizures.
Stress during pregnancy or the first few months of life can train the developing brain in ways that increase neuronal excitability and reduce the seizure threshold. Other risk factors include exposure to road noise and air pollution near the residence.
About 30% of children with febrile seizures in the past continue to have an elevated risk of having another febrile seizure. A second febrile seizure during the first year is 50% more likely in children under 12 months at the time of the first one. Within a year, this risk drops to 30%.
A family history of febrile seizures, low temperature at the time of the seizure, and a shorter time between the fever and the seizure may also point to a higher likelihood of subsequent febrile seizures, in addition to the young age at the time of the first seizure. The risk of febrile seizures recurring, however, is not always increased by characteristics linked to complicated febrile seizures.
Children with uncomplicated febrile seizures are around 1% to 2% more likely than the general population to develop epilepsy in the future. The risk of epilepsy increases (5–10%) in children with complicated febrile seizures, poor neurodevelopment, or family history. There is no evidence that febrile seizures are associated with intellect deficits or learning difficulties.
Febrile seizures are seizures caused by a rapid increase in body temperature, with a fever higher than 38 C or 100.4 F, without any underlying seizure-provoking causes or disorders, such as central nervous system infections, electrolyte imbalances, drug withdrawal, trauma, genetic susceptibility, or known epilepsy.
Simple and complicated febrile seizures are the two types of febrile seizures.
A general definition of a febrile seizure in children ranges from 6 months to 60 months (5 years). However, the actual age range varies significantly throughout the medical literature.
Up to 4% of children in this age range get febrile seizures, which are quite prevalent. Some children only experience one febrile seizure, while others experience several episodes throughout early childhood.
A febrile seizure is the immature brain’s age-dependent response to a fever. The development of the brain results in an increase in neuronal excitability, which puts the child at risk for febrile seizures. As a result, febrile seizures primarily affect young children under the age of 3 since their seizure threshold is low.
The precise pathophysiology of febrile seizures is unknown. 10% to 20% of first-degree relatives of individuals with febrile seizures also experience febrile seizures, indicating a genetic predisposition. There is no known inheritance pattern in particular.
When a child has a temperature of more than 38 C (100.4 F) and no other seizure-inducing etiologies, they have febrile seizures. Since every child’s threshold convulsive temperature differs, the maximum fever intended to trigger febrile seizures is specific to each individual. Frequent febrile seizures frequently happen when the patient’s temperature increases, even if the severity of the fever is ultimately the most important cause.
A febrile seizure may be a child’s initial disease indicator, with the discovery of a temperature higher than 38 degrees coming later. Although no one cause of fever is more likely to result in febrile seizures, viral infections rather than bacterial are more frequently linked to febrile seizures. HHV-6 is frequently linked to febrile seizures in the United States and Europe.
The influenza A virus has frequently been linked in Asian nations to febrile seizures. Any sufficiently high temperature may bring on a febrile seizure. Postnatal corticosteroid therapy significantly increases the risk of febrile seizures in premature children. Alcohol and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with a marginally higher incidence of febrile seizures.
Stress during pregnancy or the first few months of life can train the developing brain in ways that increase neuronal excitability and reduce the seizure threshold. Other risk factors include exposure to road noise and air pollution near the residence.
About 30% of children with febrile seizures in the past continue to have an elevated risk of having another febrile seizure. A second febrile seizure during the first year is 50% more likely in children under 12 months at the time of the first one. Within a year, this risk drops to 30%.
A family history of febrile seizures, low temperature at the time of the seizure, and a shorter time between the fever and the seizure may also point to a higher likelihood of subsequent febrile seizures, in addition to the young age at the time of the first seizure. The risk of febrile seizures recurring, however, is not always increased by characteristics linked to complicated febrile seizures.
Children with uncomplicated febrile seizures are around 1% to 2% more likely than the general population to develop epilepsy in the future. The risk of epilepsy increases (5–10%) in children with complicated febrile seizures, poor neurodevelopment, or family history. There is no evidence that febrile seizures are associated with intellect deficits or learning difficulties.
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