What causes convulsions in fever?
What causes convulsions in fever?
Infection. The fevers that trigger febrile seizures are usually caused by a viral infection, and less commonly by a bacterial infection. The flu (influenza) virus and the virus that causes roseola, which often are accompanied by high fevers, appear to be most frequently associated with febrile seizures.
At what temperature do convulsions start?
Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen when a young child has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). (Febrile means “feverish.”) The seizures usually last for a few minutes and stop on their own.
How do you prevent fever convulsions?
Febrile seizures cannot be prevented by giving the child lukewarm baths, applying cool cloths to the child’s head or body, or using fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
Can convulsion cause death?
A convulsion might obstruct a person’s airway, leading to suffocation. Other possibilities center around the heart. Some experts theorize that a heart arrhythmia or cardiac arrest might lead to death in SUDEP. It is possible SUDEP could also occur from a combination of cardiac and breathing factors.
How do you treat convulsions?
Seizure first aid
- Carefully roll the person onto one side.
- Place something soft under his or her head.
- Loosen tight neckwear.
- Avoid putting your fingers or other objects in the person’s mouth.
- Don’t try to restrain someone having a seizure.
- Clear away dangerous objects if the person is moving.
Can febrile seizures cause death?
The first febrile seizure can be frightening for parents. Most parents are afraid that their child will die or have brain damage. However, simple febrile seizures are harmless. There is no evidence that they cause death, brain damage, epilepsy, or learning problems.
What is the best treatment for convulsion?
Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) AEDs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. They help control seizures in around 7 out of 10 of people. AEDs work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain.
Are convulsions curable?
They can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may cause confusion or loss of consciousness. Afterward, you may have no memory of a seizure happening. There’s currently no cure for epilepsy, but it can be managed with medications and other strategies.
Is there a difference between a seizure and a convulsion?
A convulsion is a general term that people use to describe uncontrollable muscle contractions. Some people may use it interchangeably with the word “seizure,” although a seizure refers to an electrical disturbance in the brain. Seizures may cause a person to have convulsions, but this is not always the case.
Are convulsions serious?
A long convulsive seizure (called “tonic-clonic or convulsive status epilepticus”) is a medical emergency. Generally speaking, a generalized tonic-clonic seizure lasting 5 minutes or longer is a medical emergency.
