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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Febrile convulsions

61 replies

erja · 01/02/2019 14:34

DS had - what turned out to be - a febrile convulsion yesterday lunchtime with a temp of 40.1 and was brought by ambulance to A&E for a check.
They ruled it as a viral throat infection and told us to give regular medication to keep his temp down.

Is it normal for a febrile convulsion to happen again?
I called the ward this morning and told them that he was being stubborn with taking the Nurofen/Calpol (he's almost 2), and was told to keep trying but if he seems fine then don't panic.
I managed to get a dose in this morning. I just gave him a Calpol dose now (50 minutes after he was due for another one because he was being difficult) and he had another minor convulsion 5 minutes after taking it, and he's now asleep on my chest. Do I panic? Is it normal to have a second one? Should I be allowing him to sleep?

OP posts:

Original poster

erja · 01/02/2019 14:36

He's temp is up but his hands and feet are freezing.

OP posts:

Jackshouse · 01/02/2019 14:36

I would ring 111 and ask for advice.

Yes they can be normal in young children with high temps because they can’t do things to prevent overnheating eg sweeting.

Jackshouse · 01/02/2019 14:37

High temp and cold hands and feet is a sign of spesis so either 999 and say signs of spesis or take straight to a and e and at booking it say spesis.

Don’t wait. Do it now.

Tika77 · 01/02/2019 14:40

I agree, call 999.

MyBreadIsEggy · 01/02/2019 14:40

I’d always get it checked out - especially with those symptoms.

My Dd had febrile convulsions at about 8 months old and it was the scariest thing, but she has never had another one and she’s nearly 4. The hospital did say though that’s it’s very common in kids under 5, as they are crap at regulating their own body temperature.

Walkingthedog46 · 01/02/2019 14:43

My eldest daughter had 2 febrile convulsions, and my youngest daughter had 4. My granddaughter has had 2.

Whocansay · 01/02/2019 14:47

My eldest had around 14 altogether. They stopped just before he turned 3. We called for an ambulance every single time. The A&E we went to were incredibly supportive and told us not to hesitate. It's so scary. Just call 999.

Original poster

erja · 01/02/2019 14:53

I've rang and they've said it's fine, just to top up his ibuprofen and keep an eye on him??

OP posts:

Whocansay · 01/02/2019 14:57

If you are still worried, take him in yourself and get him checked out.

It's really horrible, I know. But your baby will be OK.

Original poster

erja · 01/02/2019 14:57

He's awake now, just absolutely boiling with cold hands and feet and whimpering, and extremely needy, he won't get off my chest. Does the advice they gave seem right????

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MargotSimpson · 01/02/2019 14:58

My son had a 7-minute febrile seizure when he was 15 months. Hands down the scariest moment of my life. I wouldn’t hesitate to call 999 every time. Use your instincts, 111 or 999.

Bowserlovesmojitos · 01/02/2019 15:00

Take him to a&e to be checked - they'd rather see a well child and reassure parents.
It doesn't sound like he's coping well and may need something else or it could be something like sepsis.

MargotSimpson · 01/02/2019 15:00

@erja I would call 111 back and say how concerned you are. Alternatively bring him to a&e.

KittyMcTitty · 01/02/2019 15:00

Ring 111 again and check - take to your doctor - or a&e - do not worry if you feel you are hassling! Better safe than sorry!

Whocansay · 01/02/2019 15:00

I'm not a medical professional, but I would take him in. If nothing else it will give you peace of mind.

Mine always went 'floppy' afterwards. It took a while for the temperature to come down.

Original poster

erja · 01/02/2019 15:01

They ruled out any sort of blood infections like sepsis on the basis that he was up and playing after Calpol/nurofen. Now I'm worried?!? They said it was a definite throat infection.

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BoxOfBabyCheeses · 01/02/2019 15:01

My son had a febrile convulsion with a severe ear infection. His temp was 40.0 and we were taken by ambulance to a&e as I don't drive. If his temperature is consistently above 39 degrees and not coming down with calpol AND ibuprofen then I would see someone to get him checked out. They need to be treating the cause of the high temp, to prevent these febrile convulsions.

tappitytaptap · 01/02/2019 15:03

If you want or feel you need to get him seen, please do. My DS has had 6 now and 3 of those were in a 24 hour period as calpol and ibruprofen just weren't keeping his temp down. After the 3rd we dialled 999 and he went to A&E where they kept him in overnight for obs just in case it was anything more serious than the viral infection they thought it was. He's fine now and been running around soft play this morning. I don't think its the convulsions so much as whats causing the high temp they worry about, in case its a more serious infection.

tappitytaptap · 01/02/2019 15:04

Meant to say those 3 were last week! He's a couple of months shy of 3.

PoppySeedBun18 · 01/02/2019 15:06

Have you removed his clothes? Febrile convulsions are common in young children so it’s important to keep him cool and topped up with antipyretic medications. Cold hands and feet with a fever is also common and not a red flag for sepsis ( not by ambulances anyway). What does his skin look like? Mottled/ashen? If you are concerned then of course you can take him to a&e but they will probably have seen 50 kids come in with the exact same symptoms so don’t be surprised if they don’t seem all that concerned. Medication for seizures will only be given for a chronic problem

sycamore54321 · 01/02/2019 15:06

He’s one year old and has signs of sepsis and a seriously high fever not controlled by paracetamol? And he’s having seizures? Seriously, go directly to A&E. Don’t ring anybody as they clearly are not grasping what you have said here. You are clearly worried with strong justification. You don’t need permission from here or from 111. Just go to A&E. The alternative is too awful to contemplate. It may well be nothing serious but those combinations of symptoms are terrifying to me.

Rootvegetables · 01/02/2019 15:06

If he's had another convulsion go to the hospital, really you should have called an ambulance straight away.

Original poster

erja · 01/02/2019 15:09

@PoppySeedBun18 mottled skin which they noted yesterday and said it's just linked to an infection and they weren't worried.

@sycamore54321 I didn't call 111, I called the open access number we were given yesterday for the doctors who dealt with him in hospital! That's where I'm stuck - they're saying they're not worried, that the paracetamol didn't have time to bring it down and cold hands and feet are normal with a fever.

OP posts:

Jackshouse · 01/02/2019 15:10

He needs to go to a and e. He has an uncontrolled temp, is fitting and is showing signs of spesis.

Babies and young children can deteriorate very quickly. My own DD went from GP saying no sign of infection other than temp but have some antibiotics as it’s a Friday night to being admitted to hospital in less than 24 hours.

PoppySeedBun18 · 01/02/2019 15:11

What is his temperature now?

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