Complications of Febrile Seizures: Signs, Symptoms and Treatments

Seizures are a complex neurological health complication that can affect both adults and children. For many children, the complications of seizure development are often attributed to a temporary infection or illness. If your child is running fever, and seems to be suffering from febrile seizures, it is important to become familiar with the complications these types of seizures can cause.

Febrile seizures are a type of temporary seizure that is caused by a spike in body temperature, due to an illness. While there may be no brain or spinal cord illness present, a child who has an extremely high fever can be at risk for suffering from a febrile seizure and the associated complications. To prevent these types of seizures, parents must use remedies to keep fever down when a child is ill. Using over-the-counter ibuprofen and children's pain reliever is ideal and, just like comparing seasonal allergy medications, always be sure you are using a top brand name product as recommended by your pediatrician.

Complications of febrile seizures are typically the same as that found in traditional seizure disorders. Children who suffer from seizures while experiencing a high headache will be at risk for bodily injury, biting their own tongue, and even aspirating bodily fluids. It is important, therefore, that you become aware of the methods in which to handle a seizure complication if your child has an extremely high fever.

While most seizure disorders can be controlled with medications, a child who suffers from febrile seizures will only be cured once the underlying condition causing the fever is resolved. Unlike a Jacksonian seizure condition, which last a lifetime, febrile seizures will diminish as your child's illness resolves. It is for this reason that good medical treatment is necessary whenever a child has a seizure in response to an illness or infection.

Sources: The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Febrile Seizures, by Icon Health Publications.