Febrile convulsions: first aid

Seizures are related to motor impairment and are manifested by pathological contraction of muscles. Develop with various injuries and diseases of the nervous system, with severe intoxication or poisoning, can accompany metabolic disorders, and also occur with various forms of neuroses and endocrine pathologies.

In most cases, seizures are characterized by paroxysmal character and neurological etiology (arise against the backdrop of brain pathologies).

They are tonic and clonic. Tonic type of seizures is characterized by muscle fiber tension for a long time. They proceed painlessly, although in some cases may be accompanied by severe pain, especially in the case of shin cramps that occur against the background of ischemia of their muscles. Tonic convulsions are also observed with myotonia and epilepsy.

Clonic convulsions are a rapid contraction of muscles. They occur at very short intervals and are observed with infectious brain damage, may be a manifestation of hereditary damage to the nervous system, arise in epidemic encephalitis, and in epilepsy after seizures of tonic convulsions.

It is also worth mentioning febrile convulsions, which often occur among children at high body temperature and may indicate abnormalities in the work of the brain. Most often this type of seizure occurs with viral infections, flu, angina, bronchitis or pneumonia, when the body temperature is above 38 ° C, as this breaks the blood supply to the head and there are metabolic disorders, which increases the willingness of the brain to convulsions. In this case, an important role is played by hereditary predisposition.

Often cramps in the child occur on the first day of high fever and are manifested by loss of consciousness, tension of the whole body, twitching of hands and feet. Some children may have foam from the mouth or appear uncontrolled urination, although there are also cases when the clinical manifestations are erased.

I must say that febrile convulsions only occur once and rarely repeat throughout the day. However, they indicate a high risk of epilepsy.

What to do if your child has febrile convulsions?

• Calm down and do not try to restrain convulsive movements;

• put the child on a flat surface, place a pillow under his head;

• Turn the head to the side, which will help prevent the tongue from slipping and saliva entering the respiratory system;

• Do not try to open your mouth;

• Do not perform artificial ventilation or massage the heart.

Febrile convulsions disappear on their own in a few minutes. If the attack lasts more than 5 minutes, and breathing becomes difficult, you need to call an ambulance.

In order to prevent this pathology, at a high temperature the child should be given antipyretic drugs, for example, "Paracetamol." If the cramps are prolonged or repeated, the administration of drugs "Diazepam", "Seduxen", "Relanium" is indicated. If there is a risk of seizures on the background of high temperature, prophylaxis is performed by the appointment of anticonvulsants.