Synonyms in a broader sense
Medical: occasional cramp, occasional seizure
Definition
The febrile seizure is an occasional seizure (cerebral seizure) that lasts only a few minutes and originates in the brain (cerebral seizure). It usually occurs in small children and is triggered by the elevated temperature of the fever. It occurs in connection with febrile diseases (infections), e.g. three-day fever, measles or inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media), and is manifested by dizziness and rhythmic twitching of the entire body.
Summary
A febrile convulsion is a relatively common event in infancy: between the 6th month of life and the 5th year of age, about every 25th child suffers a febrile convulsion. Such an occasional spasm appears to the parents as a life-threatening event, as the affected child twists its eyes (gaze deviation), twitches all over its body (clonic seizure) or becomes stiff (tonic seizure), is dazed or unconscious and can empty stool or urine. However, since this state stops of its own accord after an average of 5 minutes and the child does not suffer any permanent damage, the febrile convulsion can be classified as harmless.
Forms of febrile convulsions
The most common form (about 75%) of febrile convulsions is the simple or uncomplicated febrile convulsion. It proceeds with muscle cramps that affect the entire body (generalized seizure) and usually lasts no longer than 5-10 minutes. In about a quarter of the cases a complicated febrile spasm can occur.
This is characterized by a seizure duration of 15 minutes, two or more seizures within 24 hours, four or more febrile convulsions in the past, or muscle twitches that are restricted to one part of the body or start at one point and spread to other parts of the body (focal seizure). Furthermore, one speaks of a complicated febrile convulsion if the affected child is younger than 6 months or older than 5 years. If a complicated febrile seizure occurs, the child must be taken to hospital and an electroencephalogram (EEG) is performed to determine whether an underlying disease of the nervous system (e.g. epilepsy) is the cause of the seizure.
