The Febrile Seizure: How To Act

Unfortunately as mothers we have to face difficult situations that affect the health of our babies. One of the most feared is febrile seizure , in which the child’s body begins to tremble for no apparent reason, that is, they begin to convulse for a certain period.

Under these circumstances, it is normal to worry about the physical integrity of our child, but, the good news is that this clinical picture is considered benign . Of course, we are not prepared to live this experience and, therefore, fear does not take long to arrive; however, it is important to understand this phenomenon, to know what to do.

Febrile seizure is considered benign

Now, we must explain what a convulsion , even though we’ve heard that term before. This complication is a sudden change in the body, caused by a series of electrical impulses in the brain that have no explanation. .

As usual, there are contractions of the limbs of the body with brief periods of relaxation ; or perhaps extreme stiffness or relaxation, giving the impression of paralysis. The most frightening seizures are those that alter the entire body, but you can also stare at them for a few seconds.

What is a febrile seizure all about?

Now that we know what seizures are and how they occur, we can better understand febrile seizures. In this case, the main cause of this problem is fever  which generally affects three or four little ones out of every hundred.

This episode can be present from nine months to five years old . After this age, it is not very common for it to happen; and it is estimated that only 50% of children who have already experienced it will never suffer from it again in their lives.

But what exactly happens in the body? The temperature begins to rise in such a way that it becomes too high for a youngster, or it rises suddenly and his body is not prepared to tolerate this change. . Regarding the last case, it does not need to reach very high levels, only to rise quickly.

Febrile seizure occurs from nine months to five years

However, we have to clarify that the intensity of seizures varies , so the baby could only present with rolling eyes or stiffness in some of the limbs or with other more serious symptoms such as a seizure that affects the whole body and is completely agitated.

This moment is complicated when they begin to moan, vomit , bite their tongue, stop breathing and change their color . Here you must prevent him from hurting himself with objects in the environment and take him in your arms to convey all your love. Call your pediatrician immediately and go to the nearby hospital.

After these episodes, the child will go through a state of drowsiness known as a post-critical state, in which they are exhausted and confused .

How to act?

Helplessness and confusion leave us without knowing what to do, as we watch our little angel shake uncontrollably. The bad news is that there is little we can do to avoid this scenario and what remains for us is to prevent other elements from being damaged. . Also, you have to keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t leave him alone for a second.
• Do not try to stop their movements, because you could cause an injury .
• Take off any clothing that is tight, especially in the neck area.
• Remove any furniture they might trip over .
• Do not put your finger in his mouth, as he could bite you without achieving anything.
• Don’t put anything between their teeth to prevent them from swallowing their tongues or biting, because it increases the risk of other dangers.
• If he has vomited, has saliva in his mouth, or if his tongue is hindering breathing, turn him to his side.
• If it lasts several minutes, do not hesitate to go to a hospital , where they will look for the cause of the fever with specialized tests, to rule out other serious diseases such as meningitis .

Parents will never want anything bad to happen to our little ones; but, In those situations that get out of hand, the best we can do is be prepared and give them all the love they need . Trust your instincts and always protect it on your lap.