PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast Febrile Seizures
May 9, 2024
Learn about febrile seizures in children, including prevalence and causes. Explore the relationship between fever and seizures, post-vaccination risks, and management strategies. Discover effective communication strategies for families dealing with febrile seizures.
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Febrile Seizure Prevalence
- Febrile seizures are the most common neurologic disorder in young children, affecting 2-4% between 6 months and 5 years old.
- They are associated with fever but not intracranial infection, peaking between 12 and 18 months of age.
Cause of Febrile Seizures
- Febrile seizures are likely due to the developing nervous system's vulnerability to fever's effects.
- Unmyelinated neurons are more excitable by cytokines during fever in young children.
Fever Degree vs. Rate
- Febrile seizures are linked to the degree of fever, not the rate of temperature rise.
- Most seizures occur on the first day of illness, sometimes as the first symptom.