Do febrile seizures cause brain damage?
How a child looks during a febrile seizure can be quite frightening. However, short seizures cause no damage to the brain. That is why it is expected that your child will return to normal activity and behaviour soon after the seizure is over. There has been a great deal of research which shows that a child who has had a febrile seizure does not have long-term problems. The child’s development and how well she does in school will not change from having a febrile seizure. Do children who are usually healthy have febrile seizures? Yes. About 4 percent of all children have a febrile seizure in early childhood. Why do some children have febrile seizures? Several factors that have been found: • Certain illnesses are more likely to trigger a seizure. • Some families are more prone to having febrile seizures. • Each person’s body responds differently to illness. If your child has just had a febrile seizure for the first time it is important that they are seen right away by a doctor or in the E
