Febrile seizures: A review

Abstract

Abstract Febrile seizures are common, occurring in up to 5% of children in the United States. Frequently perceived by caregivers as a life‐threatening event, febrile seizures are a common cause of emergency department visits. The concern for permanent neurologic sequelae and future epilepsy after febrile seizures has resulted in a significant amount of research on these topics. The development of childhood vaccines over the past several decades has led to a significant reduction in childhood bacterial meningitis. This in turn has led to a dramatic change in the evaluation and treatment of febrile seizures. In this review, the different types of febrile seizures as well as the evaluation and prognosis of each are discussed.

Keywords

• complex febrile seizure
• febrile seizure
• febrile status epilepticus
• simple febrile seizure