Special Considerations
Febrile seizures (Ferri 2013; Duffner et al 2011) most frequently occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years with a fever of at least 100.4°F (38°C). They are unrelated to intracranial infection, metabolic disturbance, or any history of febrile seizures. Simple febrile seizures are generally considered benign events with an excellent prognosis. Viral illness is usually the cause of febrile seizures, and diagnosis and treatment are aimed at the source of the infection. If the seizure lasts longer than 15 minutes or recurs within 24 hours, it is considered a complex febrile seizure. For patients with a complex febrile seizure, laboratory tests and brain imaging are recommended to rule out a more serious underlying cause.