Febrile seizures

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2026

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy
06:58

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Shlomo Shinnar1, Tracy A Glauser

  • 1Montefiore Medical Center, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. sshinnar@aol.com

Journal of Child Neurology
|March 29, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Febrile seizures are common in children and usually benign. While recurrence is possible, most children do not develop epilepsy, and treatment focuses on managing seizures rather than preventing future epilepsy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Febrile seizures are the most common seizure type in children, affecting 2-5% in the US.
  • Seizures are classified as simple or complex based on characteristics like duration and focal onset.
  • Risk factors for febrile seizures, recurrence, and epilepsy development are varied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of prognosis and management of febrile seizures.
  • To discuss the changing approach to treating febrile seizures.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on febrile seizures.
  • Analysis of risk factors, recurrence, and long-term outcomes.
  • Evaluation of treatment strategies, including antiepileptic drugs.

Main Results:

  • Febrile seizures generally have a good prognosis with minimal risk of mortality or morbidity.
  • Most children with febrile seizures do not develop epilepsy.
  • Antiepileptic drugs can prevent recurrence but do not impact the risk of developing epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • Febrile seizures are largely benign neurological events in childhood.
  • Management strategies are evolving, focusing on the benign nature and low risk of epilepsy.
  • Treatment decisions should consider the limited impact of antiepileptic drugs on long-term epilepsy risk.

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