Febrile convulsion

Dr. Çiğdem Yavrucu / Child Health and Diseases Specialist

When it comes to fever in babies and children, mothers and fathers naturally can experience worries such as, "if the fever gets high! If the fever is convulsive!" What needs to be done is to know the febrile convulsion closely and take precautions accordingly.

We know that fever is a defense mechanism of the body, not actually our enemy. However, the fever can reach the convulsive stage, which may have negative consequences, albeit rarely.

Convulsion is the name given to involuntary movements, loss of consciousness, behavior or feelings that develop due to abnormal electrical stimulation of brain cells. The shape of the convulsion varies according to the brain area where the abnormal stimulus originates. Convulsion seizures can also be interpreted as the immature child's brain reacting to temperature changes caused by sudden fever. This is a neurological condition that can be seen in 5 percent of children aged 6 months to 4 years (most often 6-18 months). While the frequency of convulsions due to fever is 2-5 percent in children under the age of 6, this rate increases up to 8-22 percent in family members with convulsion due to fever. The frequency of developing epilepsy in the future is 2 percent in children with febrile convulsions.

• Convulsion symptoms

* High fever,

* Loss of consciousness,

* Body lock,

* Contractions,

* Cross-eye or fixation to a point,

* Paleness,

* It is the state of fainting after the seizure.

• Dangerous situations

* Having epilepsy in the family,

* The convulsion time takes longer than 15-20 minutes,

* More than 3 convulsions,

* Permanent changes may occur if the first convulsion occurs before the age of 1 or after the age of 4.

• Things to do in the convulsion

* The airway should be kept open,

* If it is an older child, it should be placed on a hard surface and turned to the side position,

* In order to reduce the baby's fever slowly, the clothes should be removed and warm cloths should be placed on the baby's head and chest and the body should be wiped with warm water.

* Suppositories containing antipyretic paracetamol can be used,

* If the baby's breathing becomes difficult, the baby should be helped to breathe by grasping the lower part of the chin on both sides and moving it back and forth,

* A doctor should be called and applied to the nearest health institution quickly.

• Don'ts of convulsion

* The baby should never be put in the bathtub during convulsion; It may be dangerous.

* If the baby starts vomiting during referral, it should be placed face down or on its side; should never be laid on their back.

Editor's note: Be sure to read our expert's other articles about fever..