The fever-induced convulsions that some young children suffer appear to have no long-term impact on their brain functioning. However, there is a risk of developmental problems when infants suffer the seizures. Fever-induced seizures, or febrile convulsions, affect up to 4% of children by age 5. The possible long-term consequences for children's brain development and school achievement have been unclear. Some research has suggested that children who experience prolonged or recurrent febrile convulsions are at higher-than-average risk for mental retardation and behavioral problems. In sharp contrast, other studies have found these children to perform better on tests of intelligence and academic skills. This latest research bolsters the findings of the latter studies, showing that children with a history of fever-induced seizures actually outperformed other kids in tests of memory and learning capacity.
The exception was for children who suffered febrile convulsions before the age of 1. These children were at increased risk for deficits in mental abilities. This study provides "reassuring data" that fever-induced convulsions have no lasting impact on most children's memory.
However, it also reinforces the concern that during infancy, these seizures may injure certain brain cells and lead to more profound dysfunction. The 'take home' message is that most febrile seizures do not adversely affect global measures of intelligence, nor do they harm more specific functions such as memory, in children older than 1 year of age. Neurology July 10, 2001;57:7-8,37-42
It is absolutely amazing how infrequently your children will get sick when they are following the food choice program. We all know that it is far easier to prevent an illness than to treat it. A fever is a backup defense mechanism when our primary ones fail. Good food, adequate rest and the ability to handle stresses are the primary ones. I would also advise avoiding most all of the anti-fever medications unless your child is absolutely miserable or the fever is over 105. It is important to realize that fever reducing drugs have never been shown to reduce the chances of having a seizure. One reason for this is that seizures are usually caused by a rapid rise in temperature, not from a high fever. So by the time a high fever is discovered, the risk of a seizure has already passed. The article below is one of the most comprehensive articles to date that I have reviewed on this important topic. Many families with young children will want to print this article out or bookmark it so you can have it to refer to in the future. The second article, by Dr. Incao, is also a classic and strongly recommended.
It is important to realize that fever reducing drugs have never been shown to reduce the chances of having a seizure. One reason for this is that seizures are usually caused by a rapid rise in temperature, not from a high fever. So by the time a high fever is discovered, the risk of a seizure has already passed.
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