Febrile Seizures

thechickencoop · April 2013

We had a very scary day yesterday. H and I were out of town and DS was staying at my parents. My mom called me like around 4 and said that everything is ok, BUT Shawn had a seizure and the paramedics are taking him to the hospital for monitoring. She went into more detail, basically just telling me he was ok, but DH and I left then to head home (we had about a 2 1/2 hour drive). We got to the hospital and the doctor told us that is was a febrile seizure (he had a 102.9 fever at the hospital), and he was doing great, his temp was coming down, etc, so we hung out there until his temp got down to normal.

At his follow up visit with his pedi this a.m. they found that he had an ear infection causing the fever, so now we're doing acetaminophen, ibuprophen, and amoxi. DS has been a little sleepy today (he went to be late, then I woke him up twice for meds), but overall his attitude seems to be normal.

So I'm just wondering if anyone else has a LO that has had a febrile seizure and what your experience is? I don't know what his temp was when he had the seizure, but 102.9 doesn't seem that high to me. The doctor said that every child has a different threshold, and we will just need to be very vigilant anytime we find he is getting a fever so that it doesn't get too high. He also said it is about a 30% chance that he will have another.

How do you find it easiest to manage your LOs fevers? Do you take their temp at any set intervals or just anytime that they seem off? If they do have a temp do you always go right to alternating ibu/ace, or do you just try one first?

I am somewhat glad that we didn't see him have the seizure; my mom said it was the scariest thing she has ever seen.

yankeefans · April 2013

Febrile Seizures are very scary. DS has had a few. Feel free to call 911 if it happens again. That is what they are there for.

I am sure you have googled a ton, but the seizures are not from a high temp but from how quickly the temp spikes. It is the brains defense from the temp going up fast. I've noticed with my ds viruses tend to cause the temps to go up fast.

Honestly in most cases the febrile seizure is the first symptom that your kid is sick. Just know it is not hurting your kid and the best thing to do is to stay calm, make sure your kid is in a safe place and try to time how long it lasts. Anything longer than 5 minutes call 911. Your kid might be very sleepy after just keep an eye on him.

I am always over protective when ds has a fever. Alternate Motrin and Tylenol depending on how the fever reacts to the meds. I use a temporal thermometer so it's easier to take his temp more often. A warm bath (body temp) could help lower a fever. But don't do a cold bath, that could cause a fever to go down too fast and also cause a febrile seizure.

Febrile seizures are more common than you would expect. And in most cases he will have another one at some point. But staying calm is the best thing for you and your ds.

Good luck and hope your ds feels better soon!!!!

wochoa22 · April 2013

My DS had this happen to him about a month ago. It was almost exactly the same. Fever of 102.8 at the hospital, it was an ear infection. It was so scary! But all you can do is keep fevers down in the future. I wouldn't take his temp everyday from here on out. Just monitor him. If he seems off take it. We alternate Tylenol then Motrin if needed. He seems to do well with the Tylenol and I only give the Motrin if the Tylenol didn't bring it down. But remember you're the mommy and you along with your doctor will determine what's best for you guys. I know it's scary but hang in there. Ive talked to so many moms who have said their kid had one and never had another one again. GL

masked_rose86 · April 2013

My girls run very high temps very often (still not sure why). In any case, when one of my twins had a febrile seizure, she was 105.6 when we were checked in triage 30-45 min later (not sure how much time passed from the seizure in the car, the ambulence ride, and admission into triage). When we measured her at home right before heading to the ER (before the seizure occurred), she was 102ish. So it definitely must be a spike that causes it....regardless what initially caused it. Biggest advice, have Tylenol suppositories on hand and know the dose! My girls take meds really well, but that night she would not take anything orally for me so I could not get an anti-fever med in her.

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