Seizures due to high fever in young children: How to give first aid at home safely?

This is an automatically translated article.

When a child has a fever, what should parents do to prevent their child from having a seizure? And if unfortunately the child has a seizure, how should parents handle it to keep the child safe?
Please also refer to the instructions of Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung of Vinmec International General Hospital.

Question: Doctor, my child is 2 years old this year, since birth he has been weak and malnourished. Recently, his nephew often has a fever, one day the fever is 39.5 degrees high. I gave him effervescent tablets to reduce fever and he was back to normal. I am afraid that when he has a high fever, it may be accompanied by convulsions, so if that is the case, how should I take care of him? Thank you doctor.
(Nguyen Thi Loan, Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang City)
Doctor replied: Hi, thank you for your question. For your case, I advise you to take your baby to the doctor because your baby has a high fever and fever again and again may be caused by a certain disease. Therefore, to ensure safety as well as cure the disease, you should take your baby to the doctor.
But I will also answer your question: How to prevent convulsions when a child has a high fever? so that I can understand and know how to prevent the baby.
Fever is when the anal temperature > 38oC or axillary temperature > 37.5oC, this is the body's defense response to fight against the invasion of pathogens from outside such as bacteria, viruses or parasites. .. or vaccinate...
Febrile convulsion : High fevers often cause seizures in children aged 6 months to 6 years old because the child's brain is not fully developed and sensitive at that time. sensitive to temperature fluctuations in the body. Therefore, a high fever can stimulate a child's brain and cause a child to have a seizure. However, not all children have a seizure when they have a high fever.
1. Manifestations of febrile convulsions Often high fever over 39 0 C Loss or decreased consciousness and foaming at the mouth Arms and legs stiffen, then start convulsions Two eyes look up. There are two types of febrile seizures: simple and complex. About one-third of children with febrile seizures are complex seizures.
Manifestations when a child has a simple febrile convulsion
Generalized convulsion Convulsion duration is short, spontaneous and usually less than 5 minutes. The child did not have cognitive impairment or any neurological signs following the seizure. There is often a history of febrile seizures. Manifested when a child has a complex febrile convulsion
Convulsions of only a certain area of ​​the body (localized). Duration of more than 15 minutes Having 2 or more seizures within 24 hours. Consciousness or paralysis after convulsion.

2.How to give first aid when a child has a convulsion due to high fever

Step 1: Put the child down on the bed or a flat, cool place; Avoid hard objects, sharp objects - Put the child on his side to avoid vomiting, vomit will enter the respiratory tract - Loosen clothes or take off some clothes. - Absolutely do not use hard objects. interrupt the child's mouth. Step 2: Use a clean towel dipped in warm water, wring out the water and wipe all over the child's body, especially the groin and armpits, wiping repeatedly until the child stops convulsing. Step 3: Putting antipyretic tablets into the anus because the child is having a seizure is very difficult and easy to choke. Use the usual amount of paracetamol that your baby uses or at a dose of 10-15mg/kg body weight. Step 4: When the child stops convulsions turn the child to lie on his side, head slightly tilted back (a safe position) so that if the child vomits, the vomit will go out without entering the airways, causing airway obstruction. breathing, endangering the life of children. Step 5: Quickly take the child to the emergency room for early treatment to prevent recurrent seizures

3. Prevention of convulsions caused by high fever Take the child to the doctor for early treatment, detect the cause of the fever and prevent convulsions. Give the child more water to drink or feed more often; drink electrolyte water (oresol), orange juice, lemon juice to rehydrate and increase resistance for children Take off clothes, wear cool clothes, do not warm or cover the child Put the child in a cool, clean place Monitor baby's temperature regularly by thermocouple Wipe the child's body with warm water, use hypothermia medicine when the body temperature is over 38.5 degrees Celsius. Give the child easy-to-eat liquid foods: porridge, milk.. . or the foods your baby likes to eat to restore health. And especially for the case that your baby was born weak and malnourished, you should pay more attention. Give your baby a full meal of nutrients, a reasonable diet and food supplements to improve his health status and strengthen his resistance.

Immediately after giving first aid to your baby at home, immediately take him to a reputable medical facility for examination and treatment. You should take your baby to a pediatric specialist hospital to quickly handle neurological and cardiac complications that may occur due to prolonged febrile convulsions.
Pediatrics Department at Vinmec is one of the few multi-specialty hospitals with a full range of doctors specializing in neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, nutrition, psychology, endocrinology, hepatology, helping to handle it quickly and in a timely manner. when diseases are discovered during the examination. As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. To register for examination and treatment with Pediatricians at Vinmec International General Hospital, please make an appointment on the website for service.

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