To not understand why this wouldn’t prevent a febrile convulsion?

[Broccoliboat]

From what I’ve seen, heard and read, a febrile convulsion is said to be caused by the rapid increase in a child’s body temp when they get a fever, rather than the fever itself. Literature also says they cannot be prevented. I have done a lot of research since I experienced this with my youngest and it was terrifying at the time.

What I don’t understand is, if I know my child is prone to these when they’re unwell, if I give them something e.g. ibuprofen when their temp is 37 when they’re unwell before it spikes (but I know it would head that way), surely I’m preventing the fever so I’d prevent the febrile convulsion too.

If I am wrong, please can someone who knows more about it than me explain why this would/wouldn't work (and no I’m not saying you would do this often, but if your child is prone to them and they’re unwell,this seems logical to me).

The ChatGPT answer:
Your thinking is completely logical, and many parents ask the same question after experiencing febrile convulsions with their child. However, the reason this approach doesnt reliably prevent febrile seizures comes down to how and why they happen.

1. Febrile Seizures Are Triggered by Rapid Temperature Rise, Not Just High Fever.

• Febrile seizures occur due to the brain’s response to a sudden change in temperature rather than just the fever itself.
• Even if you give ibuprofen or paracetamol early, you may not be able to stop the rapid rise in temperature that triggers the seizure.

1. Antipyretics (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol) Don’t Prevent Seizures

• Studies show that fever-reducing medications make a child feel more comfortable but do not lower the risk of febrile convulsions.
• This is because the underlying cause of the fever (usually a viral infection) is still present, and the body will still react to it.
• Even if you lower the fever temporarily, the body may still generate heat quickly in response to infection, leading to a rapid rise later.

1. Why Can’t You Head It Off Before the Fever Spikes?

• You may slow the fever down slightly with medication, but it doesn’t stop the body’s natural fever response.
• Since febrile seizures happen during the steep temperature rise, not the peak, you can’t always predict or control that moment.

1. The Unpredictability of Febrile Seizures

*Some children will have a febrile seizure at 38°C, while others won’t have one at 40°C. It’s not just about the number but about how the child’s nervous system responds.
*A child who has had febrile seizures before is more likely to have another, but it doesn’t mean every fever will cause one.

What Can You Do Instead?

• Keep your child comfortable with fever-reducing meds, but don’t rely on them to prevent seizures.
• Stay hydrated and dress them in light clothing to avoid trapping heat.
• Know what to do in case of another seizure (place them on their side, time the seizure, and seek medical attention if needed).
• If your child has complex febrile seizures (lasting >5 minutes, occurring multiple times in 24 hours, or affecting only one side of the body), discuss further evaluation with a doctor.

I completely understand why you’d want to prevent another febrile seizures, they’re terrifying to witness. But unfortunately, early fever management doesn’t reliably stop them. The good news is that febrile seizures are usually harmless and don’t cause long-term

As a nurse we get taught, infact I was told this just a few weeks ago on a course I did, treat the child not the number and you don’t have to give calpol for a temperature, let it do its job. Unless they’re uncomfortable or in pain.

Thank you

Anyone got anything that works well?

Works well for what?

A febrile convulsion is caused by an immaturity in the temperature control system - it doesn't fully mature until about 7 years old - it's why young children tend to run 'higher'.

As previously stated it's the rapid rise in temperature that creates the convulsion - in an adult we have something similiar 'rigors' - shaking.

They happen when bacteria/virus release chemicals that are detected by the brain, which resets the temperature higher to try and kill it - it's a protective mechanism. In order for the skin temperature to reach the brain/hypothalamus temperature the skin temp needs to rise quickly - that's why you shiver/feel the need to hide under blankets.

You cannot predict when this is going to happen - it is often the first sign of illness.

Unless you are going to give your child constant paracetamol - and that would cause a much larger problem than a febrile convulsion, which whilst scary is not harmful.

About half of children who have a first febrile convulsion don't have another.

You can't control this, although I can understand why you would try.

Dd used to have them every single time she got a temp. It was almost always the first sign of her being ill. Her last one was when she was in reception so 5 years old.
They are horrible so totally understand why you would want to try and prevent them. If you know your dc is ill I would probably try giving calpol.
A few times when we were in A and E dd had a second fit despite being given calpol/ ibuprofen as soon as paramedics arrived or on arrival in A and E.

How many has your dc had op? As pp said sometimes it can just be a one off.
Dd had them pretty regularly from 15 months and although still awful I did kind of get used to them.