The idea of witnessing your child having a febrile seizure for the first time can be upsetting. If your child has a febrile seizure, you should stay calm and pay attention to their symptoms. Your child's pediatrician will be able to assess your child's overall condition. In most cases, febrile seizures do not result in any long-lasting negative side effects. Your priority while your child has a febrile seizure is to control as many of the variables as possible. Your pediatrician knows that this can be scary, so it is good to be prepared. Here are three things that your child's pediatrician wants you to know about febrile seizures.
The fever triggering the seizure doesn't have to be high
Febrile seizures are brought on by fevers in children. Contrary to popular belief, a fever that triggers a febrile seizure does not necessarily need to be high. The febrile seizure is triggered by the sudden jump in temperature, not by the heat of the temperature itself. The seizure may be the first sign of an infection. It may seem to come out of nowhere, and your child may not have felt hot to the touch prior to the seizure.
They are classified as simple or complex
A febrile seizure may be defined as simple or complex. A simple seizure lasts 15 minutes or less and does not recur within 24 hours. On the other hand, a complex febrile seizure lasts 15 minutes or more. Complex febrile seizures also tend to be limited to one side of the body, whereas simple febrile seizures may affect both sides of the body. A child may lose consciousness or become unresponsive for some or all of the seizure. If your child has a febrile seizure, try to be aware of the time that passes before the seizure is over. Let your child's pediatrician know how long the seizure lasts.
You should have your child evaluated immediately after their first seizure
In most cases, febrile seizures do not have lasting effects on your child's health outcomes, but your child should be evaluated immediately after experiencing their first febrile seizure. It is especially important that your child should be evaluated if they have trouble breathing or a stiff neck following their first febrile seizure. Complications are rare, but it is best to make a safer choice. The emergency room doctor will also be able to monitor your child for any emerging symptoms associated with their new infection.
Contact a pediatrician like Ada Pediatrics PA for more information.
