Intensive contractions of several muscles in the body, usually limbs, against a background of high body temperature (from 37.8 degrees) or neuroinfections are febrile convulsions. This phenomenon is usually observed in children under 5 years old, adults suffer from pathology extremely rarely, mainly in combination with serious neurological diseases.
The causes and consequences of febrile seizures
The exact factors provoking the spastic muscle contraction considered could not be established. There is a suggestion that convulsive seizures arise as a result of disturbance of inhibitory processes in the body.
Distinguish typical and atypical form of this pathology.
The first type of seizures is accompanied by the involvement of almost all limbs in the process (generalization), loss of consciousness . The seizure lasts less than 15 minutes and does not repeat for at least 24 hours.
Atypical febrile seizures are characterized by such signs as high duration (from 15 minutes to 12-20 hours), focal - the predominance of spasms in any part of the body. These seizures can be repeated several times a day.
In adults, it is an atypical form of febrile seizures, although this is extremely rare, even an exceptional phenomenon. As a rule, they arise against the background of epilepsy and severe neurological diseases. There are no other reasons for the condition in question at adulthood.
The only dangerous consequence of the described pathology is the progression of epilepsy and lesions of the nervous system.
First aid for febrile convulsions
Measures to be taken during the seizure:
- Put the patient on a flat, hard surface, away from sharp, heavy, any traumatic objects.
- Turn the body to the side, lower the head. This will avoid the ingress of saliva, vomit, food into the respiratory system.
- Ensure free flow of cool air into the room to reduce body temperature.
Other actions are not required before the arrival of specialists.
What can not be done with febrile convulsions:
- Try to get your tongue out. Contrary to popular myth, it is impossible to swallow it.
- Put any objects into your mouth. Such manipulations can lead to injuries to the jaws and teeth, the fragments of which can get into the respiratory tract.
- Force to hold the victim. The duration and intensity of the spasm will not affect this.
- To bring the patient to life with the help of artificial respiration.
- Give before the end of a fit of any medication or water.
Adequate therapy will be conducted by a team of doctors.
Treatment of febrile seizures
Conservative approach includes 2 types of therapy:
1. Direct treatment of seizures (dosage is indicated per 1 kg of weight per day):
- Seduxen or Diazepam 0.2-0.5 mg;
- Laurafen or Lorazepam 0.005-0.02 mg;
- Phenobarbitalo 3-5 mg;
- Ibuprofen 5-10 mg, up to 4 times a day;
- Paracetamol 10-15 mg, no more than 5 times in 24 hours;
- Naproxen 5 mg twice daily.
2. Preventive treatment (between seizures):
- Clobazam of 0.5 mg;
- Diazepam 0.4 mg every 8 hours in the first 48 hours after the attack.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of preventive therapy has not been proven. Some doctors recommend long-term, for 2-5 years, taking antiepileptic medicines:
- Carbamazepine;
- Phenobarbital;
- Valproate;
- Phenytoin;
- Diakarb ;
- Acetazolamide.
Other experts advise to abandon any drugs outside seizures. But in any case, a systematic visit to the neurologist, regular examination, instrumental and laboratory research is required.