Febrile Seizures

Summary

The majority of all febrile seizures represent a benign syndrome that does not require extensive testing or long term medication. A careful history of the febrile seizure, family history, developmental history and physical examination can identify those infants and children with this syndrome. While one-third of this group will experience additional febrile seizures, there is no significant increase in the incidence of later epilepsy or neurological sequelae. The parents of these children need to be reassured and educated about this syndrome. They should understand the emergency treatment of seizures and aggressively treat fever.

The more difficult task for the physician is to correctly identify those children who experience nonbenign seizures. Careful history and physical examination can accurately identify this group. Further evaluation including neuroimaging, electroencephalogram and developmental assessment may be necessary. In those children with a high risk of later epilepsy, treatment with an antiepileptic drug should be considered.