39 answers

Fever Convulsion

My son had not been eating very well for 2 days, just snacking here and there. We went over to my mother-in-laws house for dinner and we all sat down and my little boy stared complaining like he wanted down. I let him go find my nephew to play with him, like he always did. My nephew comes running asking, what is wrong with Levi...I said, he is teething and he might be a little cranky. He said no, something is wrong. I started toward the room and found him, on the ground, shaking, his lips and forehead has turned blue and he had some spit coming out of his mouth. My nephew was witnessing this and I told him to get grandma and everyone came running. He started coming out of it, but he was still not moving alot and he sould not move himself and would cry a little whimper. We had called the ambulance and they got there rather quickly. They started looking him over. We had undressed him and got rags to keep him cool. I have never seen any of this and it was a shock...The EMT told us this was very common and to take him to hospital ourselves. He would be more comfortable. We got there and waited for 2 hours(not bad for a hospital) and he started playing and returned to his normal self because his cousin had come to see him WE finally were taken back and he was checked out by the doctor...he wanted to do some test and he stepped out. He said that seizures were nothing to fear as long as they did not last longer than 7 minutes.. My son acted real tired and wanted to lay down, so I took him in my arms, and he layed his head down. I turned off the lights and all of a sudden, he started convulsing again. They rushed him further back and began giving him oxygen, catherizing him, putting an IV in and drawing blood for test. It took them 4 times to get a IV and draw blood...he would not even bleed. He was soo tired after all that he just slept until we got the results...They did not find anything and told me to go see his doctor the following day..Has anyone had any experience with these convulsions and what do I look for? Will he be okay as long as there is no fever. I am keeping the fever down with aceteminifin and Ibuprofin, back and forth every 6 hours..he seems to be doing okay...no convulsions anyway. He slept with us last night and he woke up at 6 burning up and I gave him Motrin and he did okay. He went back to sleep. I know this is long, but I am hoping someone can lend me some ideas or info about similiar experiences...Thanks in advance

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So What Happened?™

Thank you for your immediate attention....He is doing much better, his fever still had not gone down completly and still spikes from 97.5 to 100.5....We are getting set up with a ND and hopefully will know more. I will also try some Homeopathic remedies, I also fear of problems with internal organs! He seems to be ina better mood, but very tired...he still tries to keep playing..The PD thinks it has to do with fever, but wants us to go to the ND just to rule out anything else because of the frequency...thanks to every mother for all the advise!!!!

He has had another seizure, but seems like he is doing better..he has not had one all day today...stil real worried...ugh. Still have not got in to see ND and Pd told me it might take a few days to get in...Please pray we get in quickley...my nerves are shot!

He is still having fever even when taking Motrin and Tylenol...Going to another doctor for second opinion and have just been taking temp every hour...it is normal one minute and then the next it will be two degrees more and then drop again...I want to find out if there is an infection, so hopefully we will know more with the next doctor...He is acting fine although some times, grabs at his head like he has a headache...he wont eat popsicles and he is eating a little more than he was. Still has loose bowel movement and is grabbing at it...I will try feverall, that sounds like a good one...thanks do much everyone, I dont know what I would do with out all this helpfull info!

Featured Answers

My son had (2) in the same day when he was about 2 yrs. old. Spiking fever...one min. he was fine and then the next going into convulsion. I would alternate motrin/tylenol every two hr. until the fever was at bay. Once he had fever for a couple days and wouldn't eat. I notice tiny white bumps on his tougue and red dots on his chest. He was almost contracting what they use to call scarlet fever. He had ear infections all the time and had tubes put in his ears. He is now 7 1/2 and hasn't had any convulsion since. He very seldom gets spiking fevers, but I immediately pull out the meds.

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My son (now 54) had what they call febrial convulsions. His temp would be normal and then shoot up to 104 /105/106. He was put on phenobarbitol the minute he started spiking a fever AND was treated, normally, for strep throat. He always had something treatable and never JUST a convulsion. If this continues you should see a pediatric neurologist.

He is a very successful Dentist in Dallas and suffered no long lasting effects but was treated by his pediatirician until he outgrew them. He still runs high fever when he is sick but no convulsions. "Broken Thermostat" is what his dr. said. Please see your pediatrician about the phenobarbitol. It is so scary to see your child like that. Do cool him down and turn him on his side.

I know you got a lot of responses about this immediate situation, but for future reference, you can give him Motrin and Tylenol at the same time so the fever doesn't break through and cause the seizures.

Give the correct dosage of Motrin (good for six hours), then four hours later give the normal dosage of Tylenol (good for four hours), then two hours later give the normal amount of motrin.

You are not over-reacting. I don't remember all the details, but children under 5 can have sudden spikes in temperature that cause seizure (over 105*). This can be a virus, a deprivation like hydration. You mentioned that he didn't eat well, but did he keep fluids down? Some childhood diabetes can onset seizures too. Make an appointment with his pediatrician and take a list of questions with you. Ask the doctor to explain all possibilities and most important... DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL YOU GET ANSWERS. Nowadays, they say they will run tests and let you know. They don't follow up as they should so ask for all info upfront. Also you can google childhood seizures. I do know that it is more common for black children, but I don't recall why. Hope this helps.

D.,
I would follow up with a pediatric neurologist; a pediatrician at least. Siezures can be caused by many things. If your child has had two in 24 hours, you should definitely get him checked out head to toe.
Good luck,
M. T

I had these and so did my oldest daughter. We both outgrew them first of all :-) They are called Febrile Seizures. I had them from ear infections and my daughter from ear infections and a sinus infection. I of couse don't remember mine but I remember her plainly. Her first one I was rocking her waiting for my mom to come get us to take her to the dr. She was running a slight fever or so I though...turned out when the ambulance arrived she had a fever of 104 degrees. The second, we were playing at grandparents and got in the car to go get something to eat, I heard a funny noise at a red light and turned around to look at her and she is having one in the car seat. That one she had a fever of 103 at the hospital. The last one she had at the babysitters (she has epilepsy, under control so she knew what to do) so she called and i took her to the dr. Don't know temp on that one. I found the best thing for the fever is fever reducer suppositories. This way they don't throw them up. WORKS GREAT!!!! I got hers at wal-mart. Also always take their temp rectally when they are little. It is a better read. I have been there and I really feel for you. It will be okay just keep a watchful eye out. Now that my daughter is 6 she tells me when she is in pain. Everyonce in a while, I still have to take her temp rectally but now she is like...MOM I'm okay....just my worries :-) Good luck

My son had (2) in the same day when he was about 2 yrs. old. Spiking fever...one min. he was fine and then the next going into convulsion. I would alternate motrin/tylenol every two hr. until the fever was at bay. Once he had fever for a couple days and wouldn't eat. I notice tiny white bumps on his tougue and red dots on his chest. He was almost contracting what they use to call scarlet fever. He had ear infections all the time and had tubes put in his ears. He is now 7 1/2 and hasn't had any convulsion since. He very seldom gets spiking fevers, but I immediately pull out the meds.

This is probably a febrile seizure if test results did not come up with anything else. They usually grow out of it by age 5. Here is a website:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detai...

From what I understand they do not cause any problems later in life.

I am glad to see that your son is doing better! I don't have any specific advice, but I wanted to say that I had this happen to me when I was 18 months old. I apparently kept my fevers in my stomach, so my mom didn't even realize I had a fever until I went into the convulsion and she picked me up. Sounds weird, I know, but that's what I've been told.

I was rushed to the ER where they did a spinal tap and all was well with that. At some point, I did stop breathing or "not responding". Turns out that I had an inner ear infection.

I hope everything turns out well for your son. Please continue to keep us updated as you have the time.

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