Febrile Seizures:Overview of Knowledge

Abstract

Febrile seizures are the most common convulsive disorder in children under 5 years old. Among these children, some develop recurrent febrile seizures. The syndrome of febrile seizures is defined as seizures associated with fever in the absence of central nervous system infection or acute electrolyte imbalance in a young child. Febrile seizures occur in approximately 2% to 4% of young children in the United States, South America, and Western Europe. The high frequency reported in Japan 9% to 10% of children. It is the most benign type of all seizures occurring in childhood. Causation is thought to be multifactorial, combination of genetic and environmental factors. Generally accepted risk factors include Viral infections commonly cause of febrile convulsions, age of onset before 18 months, temperature close to 38°C, shorter duration of fever (less than 1 hour) before the seizure and family history of febrile seizures . The most consistent risk factors reported are a family history in recurrence of febrile seizures.