Question
If a child has convulsions as soon as they get a high fever, is this epilepsy?
Answer
Case Analysis: This condition is known as a high fever seizure. High fever seizures are quite common in children, with an incidence rate of 5% to 10%. They typically occur when the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius. During this period, the child’s brain is in a state of rapid development, with the balance between excitation and inhibition systems being unstable, making high fever seizures more likely. Seizures often occur within 12 hours after the onset of fever, with sudden short-term (5 to 10 minutes) generalized convulsive episodes, accompanied by loss of consciousness, which recover relatively quickly. Generally, neurological examinations and EEGs are normal. High fever seizures can have a significant family history, indicating that genetic factors are inherent in the tendency for seizures. High fever seizures are divided into simple and complex types. The characteristics of simple high fever seizures are that they quickly develop after a high fever, with a short duration (5 to 10 minutes), and the convulsive episodes are generalized and symmetrical bilaterally, with normal mental and motor development. The characteristics of complex high fever seizures are that they occur even at low temperatures, with a duration exceeding 15 minutes, frequent attack often reaching 5 or more times, with asymmetric convulsions and neurological abnormal signs, abnormal EEGs, poor prognosis, and a risk of developing epilepsy. There is no absolute boundary between these two types; a comprehensive analysis is necessary.