Febrile Seizures Hx

SOH:

Info:

PC: Febrile Seizure

HPC:

 What were the child’s symptoms for the few days before the seizure?

 How did you know it was a fever?

 If subjective: did the baby fill warmer than usual or scorching hot?

 If thermometer used: what was the highest reading? Did the readings get higher or lower
throughout the day?

 Acute or gradual – Did it come on suddenly?

 Duration – hours, days, weeks?

 Intermittent or continuous?

 Has it gotten worse?

 Where the child was and what was he/she doing immediately before the seizure?

 Compare development to that of siblings?

 Are movements limited to one limb or one side of the body? (R/O Simple seizure)

 How long was the seizure? (Longer than 15 minutes R/o simple)

 How many more seizures occurred in 24 hour period (Recurrence rules out Simple)

 Have any other family members had seizures of any kind including during infancy

 Negative parent-sibling history (R/o Simple)

NB: Frequently, familial predisposition to similar seizures or a hx of similar events in other family
members is present. Febrile are often seen in first degree relatives who experienced the problem at the
same age.

The susceptibility of young children to febrile seizures may be related to an increased incidence of
sudden high fevers in this age group

A sudden increase in temperature to a sufficiently high level will cause seizures regardless

Immunization: patient should not be deficient on Haem Influenzae or Strep B pneumonia vaccine

Investigation include: CSF Examination (for meningitis & encephalitis)

DDx: Meningitis, Encephalitis, Brain abscess, Fever could be coincidental to another cause of Seizure
such as: trauma, toxic ingestion, metabolic derangement & degenerative disease or stroke.

Occurs in children between the age of 6 months and 5 years