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What seizures look like against a background of high fever in a small child
Convulsions at a high temperature in a child are called febrile. They do not threaten the life of the baby, but with frequent repetitions and prolonged action, they can cause disruption of the functioning of the brain.
What febrile seizures look like
They are similar to epileptic ones. During an attack, the baby does not respond to the words and actions of others, he stops crying. The baby throws his head back, rolls his eyes, his body is tense, his arms and legs buckle.
The most dangerous are convulsions in a child against a background of a high temperature of more than 40 ° C.
Convulsions may be accompanied by a blue discoloration of the skin and holding of breath, involuntary urination and defecation are possible. The attack does not last more than 15 minutes, it can be repeated several times in a row.
Why do little ones have seizures?
Children under 6 years of age with convulsive readiness are prone to this condition. Seizures occur due to a sharp increase in body temperature, above 38 ˚С. More often, attacks appear in children, since their nervous system is not yet as mature as in adults.
Provoking factors:
- ARVI;
- any infectious disease that causes a fever;
- immaturity of the nervous system;
- vaccination;
- heredity;
- hemorrhage in the brain;
- intrauterine fetal hypoxia.
A convulsive state at a high temperature is diagnosed in 4% of young children, most often in premature infants with low body weight. If a child under 6 years old has experienced febrile seizures, then the likelihood of their occurrence at an older age is small.
What to do if a child has convulsions against a background of temperature
If they appear for the first time, then you need to call an ambulance or at least show the child after the attack to the pediatrician and neurologist. After investigation, their cause will be known.
At home, you can stop an attack like this:
- Cool the baby’s body to lower the temperature. Take off his clothes. Put cold on the forehead, armpits, elbow, knee and groin folds.
- Give your baby a febrifuge. During an attack, the child should not be given medicine or water to avoid choking.
To prevent an attack in children who have already had febrile seizures, it is necessary to bring down the temperature, starting at 37,5 ° C.
If the convulsive state lasts more than 15 minutes, then intravenous administration of anticonvulsant solutions is needed.
Do not leave your baby unattended during seizures. A prolonged attack can have serious consequences.