During the first two years of a child’s life, convulsions are far more common than\u00a0at any other time in his lifetime.<\/p>\n
Fever-caused convulsions may occur in a child up to\u00a0six years of age. What happens is that in a child, the brainstem (the body’s temperature\u00a0regulator) does not mature until the child is about four years of age. A child’s\u00a0temperature may rise too quickly when he has a disease, causing convulsions. Usually,\u00a0a child who has febrile convulsions suffers no ill effects as long as the convulsions are\u00a0occasional, brief, and limited to his early childhood.<\/p>\n
a. Signs\/Symptoms of Febrile Convulsions<\/strong>. The child will have a high fever\u00a0of 102o F to 106o F (38.9o C to 41.1o C). Some children will convulse at lower\u00a0temperatures because their seizure threshold is low. Such children may have a\u00a0convulsion with a temperature of 100o F to 102o F.<\/p>\n b. Treatment for Febrile Convulsions<\/strong>. Follow these procedures:<\/p>\n (1) Take the child’s temperature and record it.<\/p>\n (2) Wash your hands and assemble the following equipment:<\/p>\n (a) Basin containing tepid (lukewarm) water.<\/p>\n (b) Bath towel (two for an older child).<\/p>\n (c) Washcloth.<\/p>\n (3) Undress the child and place the bath towel under the child (to absorb\u00a0moisture and prevent chilling).<\/p>\n (4) Cover an older child with a second bath towel.<\/p>\n (5) Expose the child’s arms and chest. Put the washcloth in the tepid water;\u00a0then, squeeze excess water from the washcloth. Sponge the child gently with the\u00a0washcloth, making long, even strokes. Apply gentle friction with your hands, following\u00a0the sponging. Repeat this process two or three times, giving attention to the child’s\u00a0armpit area.<\/p>\n (6) Sponge the child’s abdomen, legs, and feet in the same manner.<\/p>\n (7) Turn the child on his abdomen and sponge his back.<\/p>\n (8) Sponge the inner surface of the child’s groin and the perineal region.\u00a0(Sponge the anal region last.)<\/p>\n (9) DO NOT continue this process longer than 15 to 20 minutes.<\/p>\n (10) Take the child’s temperature every half hour until his temperature is\u00a0reduced to an acceptable level.<\/p>\n CAUTION: The child’s temperature may continue to fall after you have\u00a0sponged him.\u00a0Wait 30 minutes before resuming the sponge bath. Leave the child\u00a0uncovered following the sponge bath, only if his temperature remains\u00a0elevated.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" During the first two years of a child’s life, convulsions are far more common than\u00a0at any other time in his lifetime. Fever-caused convulsions may occur in a child up to\u00a0six years of age. What happens is that in a child, the brainstem (the body’s temperature\u00a0regulator) does not mature until the child is about four years … Continue reading 3-16. FEBRILE CONVULSIONS<\/span>