Febrile convulsions

[Mumlife91]

Can any one share some experience on these. My baby started having these 2 weeks ago on his 1st birthday 😩 on Tuesday he had 2. His temp isn't high, we check it constantly, the high temp comes after the seizure which the docs have said is normal. We are living on our nerves and can't sleep at night because we just watch the monitor constantly 😔

How many has he had?

Typically they'll occur occasionally, and are usually the result of a sudden temperature differential or spike.

They are absolutely terrifying but usually they don't have any lasting effect.

However if it's occurred a few times, you need to have him checked out (at hospital).

He's had 3 in 2 weeks. All 3 times been in hospital and they say they are febrile convulsions. Last one lasted 15 minutes so they were more concerned but kept him overnight and sent him home again. They are absolutely terrifying!

My DS and a lot of my family have a genetic disease called GEFS+ which means they have FC after the age of 5 usually until puberty and a lot more than normal. DS had over 20 between the age of 15 months and 13.years My DD had 4 when she was 4.
Most DS will only have 1 or 2 before the age of 5.
We were told to call an ambulance if they went over 5 minutes,we were only referred for further tests when DS had FC after the age of 5.

GEFS+ was only really discovered about 20 years ago, even though i have family history goes back at least to my DGM born in 1912.

Dr Christopher Green had a brilliant quote in his book Toddler Taming

"a normal febrile convulsion does not damage a child, only his mothers nerves"

Of the FC would be the first sign the DC were ill, because it was caused by the temperature shooting up.

My son has had 3 periods of seizures (also started a couple of days before his 1st birthday a year ago) he had 3 seizures in March 2023, 5 seizures in April 2023 (all within 24 hours) and 4 seizures in December 2023 (within 24 hours). Never with a temp it, but occasionally spiked after so very similar.

He did have D&V when it occurred all three times, the December ones he had low blood sugar. The hospital is very keen to say febrile, but his pediatrician has done a standard EEG which came back 'normal' but not conclusive and we have a second EEG almost a year later under sleep conditions (melatonin) in a few weeks. There is epilepsy in the family.

The anxiety is horrible, but my sons development is absolutely amazing and whatever the outcome we can deal with it!!

Push for more tests if you are not happy, it's relentless and scary and so hard putting them through bloods etc but it's better to be armed with the information.