Febrile Seizures
A seizure occurring in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, associated with a fever but without evidence of intracranial infection or metabolic disturbance.
1. Classification
| Type | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Simple | Generalized, duration < 15 minutes, occurs only once in 24 hours. |
| Complex | Focal onset, duration > 15 minutes, or recurrent in 24 hours. |
2. Management Approach
- Evaluation: Focus on finding the source of the fever. Lumbar puncture is not routinely indicated for simple febrile seizures unless there are meningeal signs.
- Treatment: Simple seizures usually stop spontaneously; manage the underlying fever. Antiepileptics are generally not indicated for simple febrile seizures.
- Prognosis: Excellent; the risk of developing epilepsy is only slightly higher than that of the general population.
NEET PG Hint: Remember the age limit (up to 5 years). A “febrile seizure” occurring outside this age range should raise significant suspicion for other causes. Always reassure parents that these are generally benign events and do not cause brain damage.