Twitching or jerking of the limbs with loss of consciousness that occurs in a child after a rapid rise in temperature. Febrile convulsions are common, usually affecting children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Convulsions are caused by an immaturity of the temperature-lowering mechanism in the brain, allowing the temperature to rise too rapidly in response to infections such as measles or influenza. Treatment aims to lower the temperature by sponging the child’s face and body with tepid water and using a fan. Seizures can often be prevented in susceptible children by giving paracetamol at the first signs of fever. Most children who have seizures suffer no ill effects. The risk of developing epilepsy is very small but is increased in children with a pre-existing abnormality
of the brain or nervous system, or children with a family history of epilepsy.
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