my nephew has had three fits in the past year but always when has had a temperature - how common is this?

[wannaBe]

That's it really.

he's 20 mo.

I know that it's actually more common for children to have a convulsion when they have a high temp than most people realize, but three times isn't that common is it?

And does the fact his dad had epilepsi as a child mean anything? or is it not hireditary?

I don't have great experience to offer, but I did look this up recently as my DS had a febrile convulsion. NHS direct is quite good www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=160&sectionId=6. The leaflet my doctor gave me says that most Children grow out of it by 3 years and that febrile convulsions can, in a small number of children be an early sign of epilepsy.

I would think that they should take precausions and always have meds on hand to keep his temp low, when he is sick, so that they can prevent the fits. My dd had epilepsy but I have no idea whether it is inherited or no, I seem to remember that in google serches that I did it did say that it may be. I would go and have a chat with a gp, and see that there are no other signs that could indicate epilepsy - shaking, falling often, staring blankly , unconsoable crying at times, very lethargic at times (after an episode which could happen while sleeping) not wanting to walk sometimes mood swings. (these are just some of the signs I know about probably more)

Hth

When I looked into it after DS2 had a febrile convulsion, it seemed to be more common to have just the one, less common to have more than one, but uncommon to have more than 3 before the age of five.

I haven't done any research into the epilepsy side of things though.

Hope he is OK, and his mum, I know it took more out of me than it ever did DS2!

Ds had a number of febrile convulsions. With hindsight, they were all when he was a bit under the weather.
Not at all uncommon.

Lots of kids have febrile convulsions and grow out of it but as Bens says, sometimes its an early sign of epilepsy. Best make your doc aware.

My ds' friend had convulsions every time he had a temperature, but grew out of it eventually. My nephew had what seemed like epileptic fits, he even stopped breathing on one occasion. My db and sil were very worried as there was epilepsy in her family, but he did not go on to develop epilepsy; dr said his nerve system was just underdeveloped causing the fits and that this isn't that uncommon.

I nannied for a little boy who had four febrile convulsions. The first one was incredibly scary. He is fine now afaik.

my dd3 has had lots of fits. She is now 3.2 and the last fit was just before Christmas. she gets them if her temp goes up to 37. The doctors think it is febrile convulsions, but they are now investigating her to see if they are something else as she has had alot of fits.

I had convulsions when I was a child too (until I was about 5 I think) - so they do run in families. Some people think that people who had febrile convulsions as a child are more likely to develop epilepsy as an adult, but I think that is not 100% proven.