Febrile Seizures

Alternate Names : Convulsions with Fever

Febrile seizures are convulsions that can occur in children with fever.

What is going on in the body?

Febrile seizures occur in 3% to 4% of children who are younger than 5 years old. Fever lowers the seizure threshold in the brain. The whole brain can then "short-circuit," resulting in a generalized motor seizure.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Fever causes a febrile seizure. This type of seizure is more common in children with a family history of febrile seizures. It also occurs more often in children with epilepsy, a diagnosed seizure disorder.