febrile seizure
Pronunciation: FEE-brile SEE-zhur
A seizure that occurs in children aged 6 months to 5 years in association with fever but without evidence of intracranial infection.
Full Definition
Febrile seizures are the most common type of seizure in childhood, occurring in 2-5% of children between 6 months and 5 years of age. These seizures happen in the context of fever but are not caused by central nervous system infection, severe metabolic disturbance, or a history of prior afebrile seizures. Simple febrile seizures are generalized, last less than 15 minutes, and do not recur within 24 hours, while complex febrile seizures have focal features, last longer than 15 minutes, or recur within 24 hours.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from epileptic seizures, which occur without fever and indicate an underlying seizure disorder.
In Context
- "The emergency department documented a simple febrile seizure in the 18-month-old patient with concurrent viral illness." — Emergency medicine report