What is febrile convulsion? - This is abnormal shaking or jerking movement of the body that results from abnormal electrical activity in the brain due to fever. It may also involve short-term loss of consciousness. It commonly affects children between age 6 months and 5 years. Though it may be frightening, it is unlikely to cause harm or long-term disability to the child.

What are the causes of febrile convulsion?

The underlying cause of febrile convulsion is high grade fever of up to 38.5oC or more. Causes of such fever may include:

1. Malaria
2. Chicken pox
3. Urinary tract infection
4. Respiratory tract infection
5. Measles
6. Influenza (flu)
7. Ear infection (otitis media)
8. Childhood vaccination

Sometimes, the convulsion may precede fever.

What are the symptoms of febrile convulsion?

The following may manifest in a child with febrile seizure:

1. High grade fever
2. Convulsion
3. Stiffening of muscles
4. Loss of consciousness
5. Loss of control of the body: drooling saliva, vomiting, urinating or passing stool on the body

How is febrile convulsion treated?

Children may recover on their own from febrile convulsion. Immediate treatment involves dealing with the fever by: 

1. Cooling the body with a napkin / piece of cloth soaked in tepid water (tepid-sponge)
2. Use of medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

This may be followed by definitive treatment of the underlying conditions, such as the use of:

1. Antimalaria drugs for malaria cases
2. Antibiotics for respiratory or urinary tract infection

Convulsion following fever after immunization is as a result of the fever and not due to the immunization itself. So, the fever should be managed to prevent recurrence. When convulsions last longer than five minutes or are more frequent than once in 24 hours, the child may need treatment for the convulsion. Such treatment may involve giving drugs such as:

1. Diazepam given through the vein or rectum
2. Midazolam given through the nose

Does febrile convulsion have long-term effect?

Children who experience febrile convulsion usually have no long-term complications. However, children with repeated or prolonged convulsions have risk of seizure disorder in the future.

Useful tips during convulsion

1. Keep calm: It is natural to be agitated and want to act seeing your child convulsing. Rushing to intervein may complicate the situation. Allow the convulsion to stop; it last few seconds / minutes
2. Lay the child on a flat surface: The child may be placed on the floor while all objects that can injure them are removed from close range
3. Note the time: The duration of seizure is very important. Most seizures last less than 30 seconds. Seizures lasting longer than 5 minutes need urgent medical attention
4. Place them on their side: Placing them on their side prevents them from aspiration (fluid tracking down the airway, resulting in choking). 
5. Avoid insertion of objects into their mouth – Some people believe that when children clench their teeth during the period of convulsion or unconsciousness, it is a sign that the child is about to die. This is not the case. Clenching of teeth is part of muscle rigidity that affects other muscles of the body. So, forcing objects into the mouth in order to separate the clenched teeth or prevent teeth clenching may cause injury to the mouth and surrounding structures.

Can febrile convulsion be prevented?

Prompt treatment of fever before it becomes severe may prevent your child from having febrile convulsion. However, your child may still have convulsion even with the treatment of the fever. They outgrow the tendency to have febrile convulsion as they grow older.