Febrile seizures, also known as febrile convulsions are common convulsions that occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. These fits can happen when a child has a fever. Fever is often a result of an infection.

Febrile seizures can be frightening and distressing. However, the seizures are usually unharmful and almost all children who have had a seizure make a complete recovery afterwards. They do not usually indicate serious illness. Febrile seizures can be classified into simple febrile seizures and complex febrile seizures.

Febrile seizures can be linked to the start of high temperature (fever). They may also be genetic. Also, febrile seizures can be caused by an infection (which may be due to chicken pox, flu, middle ear infection or tonsillitis. They can also be a result of fever following certain vaccinations.

Risk factors of febrile seizures are young age, family history of seizure or epilepsy, personal history of febrile seizures and attending daycare nursery.

The signs and symptoms of febrile seizures include vomiting, breathing problems, stiffness of the body, twitching of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled backwards, and fever higher than 100.4 Fahrenheit (38.0-degree celcius) and extreme sleepiness.

The Laboratory diagnosis of febrile seizures is by conducting Blood Tests to detect infections in the blood, Urine Microscopy and Culture, Cerebrospinal Fluid Microscopy and Culture, and Urinalysis.

Febrile convulsion can be prevented by taking appropriate medications to control fever before it gets worsened.

Visit MedBioTech for all your laboratory tests to detect infections that are causing febrile seizures.

References:
my.clevelandclinic.org
www.mayoclinic.org
www.nhsinform.scot
www.nhs.uk