Abstract

Febrile convulsions defined as a convulsion associated with a rectal temperature of 38°C or more are common in children under 4 years: about 3% of children will have had one before reaching school age. The susceptibility to febrile convulsions is probably inherited as a dominant trait.¹ Although most children who get febrile convulsions cease to have seizures of any kind as they grow older, prolonged or severe convulsions may sometimes lead to permanent sequelae. About 17% of children whose first fit occurs with fever will later have attacks when afebrile.^{2 3} These patients have a relatively high incidence of abnormal neurological signs and perinatal abnormalities including mental and motor retardation before the first fit.^{2 3} Perinatal abnormalities of the CNS increase the liability to any type of epilepsy, be it post-traumatic, due to metabolic causes, or associated with fever.