Convulsion occurring in a child aged six months to six years with a high temperature in which the limbs twitch; he or she may lose consciousness. The condition is common, with one child in 20 suffering from it. It is a result of immature homeostatic control (see HOMEOSTASIS) and is not usually serious, occurring generally during an infection such as measles or tonsillitis. The brain and nervous system are normal in most cases. Treatment is tepid sponging and attention to the underlying cause, with the child placed in the recovery position. It is important to rule out more serious illness, such as MENINGITIS, if the child seems particularly ill.
(febrile seizure) an epileptic-type seizure associated with a fever. Such seizures affect up to 4% of children, usually aged between six months and six years, and generally last less than ten minutes. Seizures do not lead to mental retardation or cerebral palsy, although the risk of developing *epilepsy is around 2%, especially when other risk factors, such as family history, are present. Seizures may be recurrent, but the risk of this can be minimized by attempts to reduce the fever. The underlying infection is usually viral, but more serious conditions, such as meningitis, should be excluded.
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