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Febrile Seizures
- Diagnosis: Simple vs Complex
- Simple Febrile Seizure
- Age = 6mos to 5yrs
- Single Seizure
- Generalized
- Lasting less than 15 minutes
- Child returns to baseline and has normal neurological exam.
- Complex Febrile Seizure
- Same as above, except can be focal seizure or prolonged or with multiple seizures within 24 hours.
- May indicate a more serious disease process.
- Simple Febrile Seizure
- Etiologies:
- Viral illnesses are the predominant cause of febrile seizures.
- Human herpes simplex virus 6 (HHSV-6) has been associated with about 20% of pts with first febrile seizures.
- Shigella gastroenteritis also has been associated.
- The rate of serious bacterial infections is similar to those found in pt’s with fever without a source
- Viral illnesses are the predominant cause of febrile seizures.
- Key Point:
- Do NOT forget to work-up the fever as you would for the patient’s age!
- A lower threshold for performing full-sepsis work-up with LP is advocated in those pt’s less than 12 months of age.