Febrile convulsion (febrile seizure; convulsions with fever; ICD-10-GM R56.0: febrile convulsions) is a relatively common symptom in infants and young children.
A febrile convulsion is a seizure that is triggered by fever. There is no infection of the central nervous system.
A simple febrile seizure can be distinguished from a complicated febrile seizure:
- Simple febrile seizure (70%).
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizure, i.e., the seizure is accompanied by stiffening (tonic) and rhythmic twitching movements of the arms and legs (clonic)
- Lasts no longer than 15 minutes
- Occurs only once in 24 hours
- Does not have a high risk of recurrence (risk of recurrence)
- Most often occurs between the ages of six months and 5 years
- Complicated febrile seizure (30%).
- May be accompanied by focal symptomatology (no disturbance of consciousness occurs) (usually motor)
- After a quarter of an hour has not ended
- May occur recurrently in 24 hours
- Affects either infants under 6 months of age or children over 5 years of age
It is known that febrile convulsions occur at a certain stage of development when the brain reacts with seizures to fever/febrile increases.
Febrile convulsion can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Sex ratio: balanced.
Frequency peak: the maximum occurrence of febrile seizure is between the first and third year of life, but basically affect children between the sixth month of life and the fifth year of life.
The prevalence (frequency of illness) is 3-5% in Germany.
Course and prognosis:The course and prognosis depends on whether it is a simple or complicated febrile convulsion.In the case of a first occurrence, inpatient treatment is not necessary if the child is over 18 months of age, is in good general health without neurological symptoms, and a source of infection can be clearly identified as the cause of the fever.Febrile convulsions can be recurrent (recurring) if the fever recurs. The child’s development is not affected. The prognosis is very good.
