Do you know what to do when your child has febrile seizure?

Recently, I witnessed a case of febrile seizure. For any parent, the first time seeing this can be very frightening. Although febrile seizure do not cause any harm in most cases and it does not mean the child has more serious long-term health problem, however, it is a good idea for parents to be aware of it and be prepared to have the proper medications at home to bring down the fever.

First of all, it is important to know that febrile seizure is not the same as epilepsy. Drugs for epilepsy are not used to treat febrile seizure.  Febrile seizures occur most often in children between 9 months and 5 years.   It usually occurs within the first 24 hours of an illness, such as ear infections, a cold or viral infection.  Any illness that causes a high temperature fever can cause a febrile seizure. Note that the old Chinese habit of putting heavy blankets on children with high fever to ‘get a good sweat out of them’ may not be suitable for small children, as this may contribute to a high temperature fever.

When a child is having febrile seizure, they may have some or all of the following symptoms: Eyes rolling or limbs stiffening, crying or moaning, muscle tightening, vomiting or biting the tongue, body jerking.  If the child was standing, he or she may fall and may pass urine. Even when a parent is talking to them or calling their name, the child may not respond. Sometimes, they may even stop breathing. This is why it is very important for the parent to know what to do.   

During febrile seizure, it is safest to leave the child on the floor. Remove objects that may cause injury. If the child vomits or if the tongue is blocking the airways, turn the child to the side on the stomach.

The old Chinese habit of putting something inside the mouth to preventing the child from biting his/her tongue is NOT recommended.

Do NOT try to force anything into the child's mouth to prevent biting the tongue, as this increases the risk of injury. Do NOT try to restrain your child or try to stop the seizure movements.

To bring the fever down, insert Acetaminophen suppository into the child's rectum. Oral medication may lead to vomiting or choking.

Custom Care Pharmacy carries ACET 160mg suppositories $8.49 and ACET 120mg suppositories for infants $7.29  

Use cool packs of cool washcloths on the child's forehead to bring down the temperature.  Sponge the rest of the body with lukewarm (not cold) water. Cold water or alcohol may make the fever worse.

Custom Care Pharmacy carries "Be Kool" Mickey Mouse Soft Gel adhesive sheets for immediate cooling relief from fever. $3.39 per box of 4 sheets

When the seizure subsides, it is important to try and find out the cause of the fever and see a doctor as soon as possible. You should consider driving the child to an emergency room even if the seizure is over. Although Meningitis causes less than 0.1% of febrile seizures, it is important to rule it out especially for children less than 1 year old.

 

你知道如何处理高热性惊厥嗎？

最近，我親眼目睹了一宗高熱性驚厥病例的發生。對於任何父母，第一次看到這種情況的發生都是非常擔驚受怕的。雖然在大多數情況下，高熱性驚厥不會造成任何傷害，也並不是就意味著孩子有更嚴重的長期健康問題，但是對家長來說在家里備有適當的退燒藥絕對是一個好主意。

     首先，要知道的是高熱性驚厥與癲癇是不一樣的，而且用於治療癲癇的藥物並不適用於治療高熱性驚厥。高熱性驚厥最常發生在9個月至5歲之間的兒童。高熱性驚厥大多數出現在發病的最初24小時，如耳部感染，感冒或病毒感染。任何導致高溫高熱的疾病都可引起驚厥。中國人習慣把厚厚的毯子蓋在發熱的小孩身上來捂出一身汗，這種做法是不適合小孩子的，因為這樣可能會導致高溫高熱而引發高熱性驚厥。

高熱性驚厥症狀

輕微的高熱性驚厥癥狀可能表現為孩子的眼睛睜不開或四肢僵硬。一般來說簡單的高熱性驚厥會在幾秒鐘到10分鐘內自動停止，然後出現短暫的嗜睡或精神不振。

• 高熱性驚厥開始表現為孩子身體的兩側肌肉突然收緊或收縮，并持續幾秒鐘或更長的時間。
• 孩子可能會哭或呻吟。

• 如果站著，孩子可能會倒下，並且出現遺尿。

• 孩子可能會嘔吐或咬舌。

• 有時孩子會無法呼吸，並可能開始變成藍色。

• 然後孩子的身體開始有節奏地抖動，并無法回應家長的叫喚。

高熱性驚厥的治療

• 在驚厥發作期間，讓您的孩子躺在地板上。

• 如果地板很硬，您可以在孩子身下墊一條毯子。

• 只有在危險的位置才移動小孩

• 除去任何可能導致人身傷害的物件

• 鬆開任何過緊的衣服，尤其是在脖子上。如果可能的話，打開或從腰部向上取出衣物。

• 如果孩子嘔吐，或者如果唾液和黏液在口腔中堆積，翻向靠胃那側。

請注意：過去中國人習慣把東西放到病人的嘴裡咬住，這是不提倡的。

• 切勿经口给予任何东西。

• 將你的注意力集中放在退烧方面：你可將對乙酰氨基酚栓劑插入孩子的直肠，幫他退烧。

***你可以在美健药房以會員價購買到這些產品（對乙酰氨基酚栓剂160毫克$8.49和對乙酰氨基酚栓劑120毫克栓剂$7.29）***

• 用凉浴巾敷前额和颈部，用海绵與温水擦身体的其余部分。不要用冷水或酒精，因為它們可能會令发热加重。

***你可以在美健药房以會員價$3.39購買到 BE kool MICKEY MOUSE 退烧貼***

• 當驚厥發作结束了，你的孩子變清醒後，你可给予正常剂量的布洛芬或对乙酰氨基酚。

高熱性驚厥發生后，最重要的一步是确定发烧的原因。雖然脑膜炎导致高热惊厥機會小于0.1％，它還是应列為考虑的因素。尤其是不到1岁的孩子，或发烧退下来後看起来还像生病的樣子。

预后

儿童第一次高热性惊厥發作對父母來說是一个可怕的时刻。大多数家长都担心自己的孩子会死，或有脑损伤。然而，简单的高热惊厥是无害的。目前没有证据表明它们会导致死亡，脑损伤，癫痫，智商下降，或学习问题。

什麽時候要联系医生

儿童在首次高热性惊厥發作後应尽早去看医生。

如果惊厥癥狀持续超過几分钟，请拨打911就會有救护车带你的孩子去医院。

如果惊厥发作很快结束，那麼當它结束後，你可以開車把孩子送到醫院的急诊室做必要的檢查。