What to Do When a Child Has a Fever and Seizures

Question

What’s happening when a child has seizures upon a high fever?

Answer

There are many possible causes for seizures. If the seizures are accompanied by fever and cold symptoms, it may be necessary to consider conditions such as high fever convulsions, encephalitis, or meningitis. If there is no fever during the seizures and the child screams and cries during the seizure, it may be baby spasms. If seizures occur repeatedly without fever, epilepsy should also be considered. Since the nervous system of young children is not fully developed, their ability to control temperature is insufficient. When body temperature changes dramatically, brain cells may discharge abnormally, and the body may overreact accordingly. For example, adults may shiver when they are cold or have a high fever; however, young children may lose control due to trembling and manifest it as seizures.