Abstract

Febrile seizures are the most common neurologic disorder in childhood, occurring typically in children 6 months to 5 years of age in association with fever higher than 38°C. Children with febrile seizure do not have a history of afebrile seizure, nor is there evidence of intracranial infection or trauma or another cause of seizure. Most febrile seizures occur within 24 hours after the onset of fever. Febrile seizures can be simple or complex. The majority of febrile seizures are simple febrile seizures that present with a primarily generalized tonic– clonic seizure lasting less than 10 minutes. A simple febrile seizure has a short postictal period and does not recur within 24 hours. Routine blood analyses, EEG or brain scans for diagnosis are mostly not indicated. Treatment should focus on management of causative infection. Prophylactic antiseizure therapy is not indicated. The prognosis is good and only 30% of children experience recurrent febrile seizures.