Febrile Seizures: Long-Term Management of Children with Fever-Associated Seizures

Abstract

A Consensus Development Conference on Febrile Seizures was held at the National Institutes of Health on May 19-21, 1980. The purpose of the Conference was to bring together practicing physicians, research scientists, consumers, and others in an effort to reach general agreement on the risks of sequelae in children with febrile seizures and to compare them with the potential risks and benefits of prophylaxis with anticonvulsants. This summary is the result of these deliberations. 1. What is a febrile seizure? A febrile seizure (an abnormal, sudden, excessive electrical discharge of neurons (gray matter) which propagates down the neuronal processes [white matter] to affect an end organ in a clinically measurable fashion) is an event in infancy or childhood, usually occurring between 3 months and 5 years of age, associated with fever but without evidence of intracranial infection or defined cause. Seizures with fever in children who have suffered a previous nonfebrile seizure are excluded. Febrile seizures are to be distinguished from epilepsy, which is characterized by recurrent nonfebrile seizures. 2. What are the risks facing the child who has a febrile seizure? Children who suffer a febrile seizure generally enjoy normal health after the episode. They are, however, at some risk in several respects. Thirty percent to 40% of children who have one febrile seizure and who do not receive prophylactic therapy will experience a second.