Child Epilepsy & Febrile Seizures

 

Feature/Criteria	Child Epilepsy	Febrile Seizures
Age Range	Varies widely; can occur at any age	6 months – 6 years (peak at 14-18 months)
Trigger	Multiple triggers (e.g., stress, sleep deprivation)	Fever >39°C
Family History	Possible, but not strongly linked	10% risk if a first-degree relative has had febrile seizures
Type of Seizure	Can be generalized or focal	Usually generalized tonic-clonic
Duration	Varies	Simple: <15 minutes; Complex: Prolonged or recurrent
Associated Symptoms	May or may not be associated with fever	Always associated with fever
Rule Out Meningitis	Not typically required	Must rule out, especially if meningitis is highly suspected
Initial Investigation	EEG, MRI, etc.	Blood and urine tests
Additional Tests	May include lumbar puncture	Lumbar puncture only if meningitis is highly suspicious
Treatment	Antiepileptic drugs	Antipyretics like Paracetamol; benzodiazepines for seizures lasting >5 minutes Further Reading