Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
febrile seizure
Pronunciation: FEE-brile
Convulsions in children triggered by fever, typically occurring between 6 months and 5 years of age.
Full Definition
Febrile seizures are convulsions that occur in young children in association with fever but without evidence of intracranial infection or other defined cause. They are classified as simple (generalized, lasting less than 15 minutes, not recurring within 24 hours) or complex (focal, prolonged, or recurrent). While frightening for parents, simple febrile seizures are generally benign and do not cause brain damage or increase the risk of epilepsy significantly. They affect approximately 3-5% of children between 6 months and 5 years of age.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish between simple and complex types in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The 18-month-old experienced a simple febrile seizure lasting two minutes during a viral illness." — Emergency department note
- "Parents should be educated that febrile seizures, while alarming, rarely cause lasting harm." — Patient education material
Also known as
fever-related seizure
Contrasted with
afebrile seizure
Don't confuse with
epileptic seizure
breath-holding spell