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An essential guide to febrile seizures

What are these fits, what causes them, what are the symptoms, and how should children having a febrile seizure be helped? Meredith Jones Russell explains

Febrile seizures, or febrile convulsions, are fits that can happen when a child has a fever. They most often happen between the ages of six months and three years.

WHAT CAUSES FEBRILE SEIZURES?

The cause of febrile seizures is unknown, although they are linked to the start of a fever, most often caused by an infection such as chickenpox, flu, a middle-ear infection or tonsillitis.

There may also be a genetic link, as the chances of having a seizure are increased if a close family member has a history of them.

In very rare cases, febrile seizures can happen after a child has a vaccination.

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