FEBRILE FIT

WHAT IS A FEBRILE FIT?

  • Simple febrile fits commonly occur in children between six months to six years old. There may be a history of such fits in the family.
  • Fits usually occur with high fevers, especially when the temperature reaches 38.5° C or more.
  • In a fit, the child's arms and legs will jerk involuntarily; up-rolling of the eyes and teeth clenching are common signs. The child may also pass motion and/or urine during a fit.
  • Fits usually last a few minutes, with some as long as 15 minutes.
  • A child will commonly feel sleepy after a fit.
  • There is a 30 per cent chance that the child will have another fit, especially if the body temperature maintains at 38.5°C and above.
  • The actual cause of febrile fits has not been clearly established but there may be a background family history associated with it.
  • Simple febrile fits do not cause brain damage, nor do they cause delay in a child's development.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS A FEBRILE FIT?

  • Stay calm, DO NOT PANIC!
  • Do NOT attempt to put objects suck as a spoon or even your finger into the child's mouth. This will only cause unnecessary injury to the child and yourself. Nor should you try to feed the child medication during a fit.
  • Place the child on his side to prevent choking of secretions. Try to keep him comfortable by allowing him to lie on a flat surface. Make sure that hard or sharp objects are not in the way as they may hurt the child during the fit.
  • Try to bring the fever down after the fit has ceased with either medication prescribed by your doctor, or sponging.
  • Always bring your child to the doctor if in doubt.

Bring the child to a doctor if:

  • this is the first time the child has a febrile fit;
  • the fit lasts more than 15 minutes;
  • the child is unable to move one side of his body, such as the arms or legs, after the fit;
  • the child is unusually irritable or drowsy after the fit;
  • the child has injured himself during the fit, such as a head injury as a result of falling off a couch.

TAKING CARE OF A CHILD WITH A HISTORY OF FEBRILE FITS?

  • Monitor the child's body temperature closely, every hourly to 2-hourly.
  • Feed the child medication and sponge him regularly to keep his body temperature below 38.5°C.
  • Rectal valium may also be used 12-hourly to prevent fits from occurring when the body temperature is above 38.5°C. Check with your doctor on the usage