When fever sparks seizures: Understanding Febrile Convulsions in Children

Brief summary–

• Febrile seizures occur as a result of elevated body temperature > 38^oC without evidence of an intracranial infection or a defined cause. It accounts for about a third of admissions into the emergency room secondary to seizures. It is important to note that it is a diagnosis of exclusion and so the possibility of an intracranial infection must be ruled out.
• Febrile seizures often occurs in children aged 3 months to 5 years
• Management involves aborting the seizure with a rapidly acting anticonvulsant, treatment of the underlying cause and educating caregivers about home management of convulsions prior to discharge.
• The risk of recurrence is about 30-40% and majority would outgrow it by the age of 5 years.

Where does this course fit in?

This session forms part of an ongoing clinical education, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. It aims to create awareness on the proper emergency treatment of febrile seizures, clarifying misconceptions and reducing caregiver’s anxiety.

Learning objectives:

• Define febrile seizures
• Identify the different causes of febrile seizures in children
• Explain the pathogenesis of febrile seizures
• Differentiate simple from complex febrile seizures
• Outline the different life-saving interventions for a child who presents with febrile seizures

Target audience:

• Consultants
• Medical officers
• Nurses
• Laboratory scientists
• Quality improvement and patient safety teams
• Hospital administrators
• Allied health professionals

Speakers:

• Dr Feyikemi Olabisi
• Dr OreOluwa Lagunju