$Unique_ID{BRK00742}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Seizure During an Illness--a Sign of Developing Epilepsy?}
$Subject{seizures fever child care Nervous System febrile seizure epilepsy
simple complex}
$Volume{S-1}
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Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Seizure During an Illness--a Sign of Developing Epilepsy?


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QUESTION:  Recently my 2 year old son was taken with a case of roseola, and
ran a very high temperature.  During the illness he had a seizure which passed
rapidly, leaving the parents more affected than the patient.  We are very
concerned, and though our doctor has been very reassuring, we fear that this
may be a sign of epilepsy developing.  Do you have any answers for us?

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ANSWER:  The type of seizure experienced by your youngster is quite common and
may affect between 2% and 5% of all children.  It is called a febrile seizure,
and is seen in almost 500,000 children each year.  Usually they are seen as a
single episode that is not repeated, and thus is considered benign.  Febrile
seizures are usually brief, leaving the child with little confusion or
weakness when they have passed.  We now classify them into "simple" or
"complex" seizures.  A simple seizure will last for less than 15 minutes,
affecting the entire body, and occurring but once in a 24 hour period.  In
children with but a single, simple seizure, 65% have no further problems, and
only 2% develop epileptic seizures according to one study.  There is no
conclusive evidence that febrile seizures by and of themselves cause epilepsy.
In order to attempt to predict the possibility of future development of
epilepsy, physicians look at four risk factors.  They are; presence of complex
seizures which last for more than 15 minutes and seem localized in one part of
the body, abnormal neurological findings, a history of 3 or more seizures, and
a positive family history of seizures unrelated to elevated temperature.  The
greater the number of risk factors present, the greater the possibility of
epilepsy developing on down the road.  However, the prognosis for you is most
certainly a good one.  The history of but a single episode, and the knowledge
that this type of attack leaves no physical or mental impairment, and that we
have no evidence that febrile seizures provoke epilepsy, should be reassuring.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.