Febrile seizures in pediatrics

Abstract Background A febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure without underlying neurological disease in pediatrics. Due to their sudden onset and striking symptoms, FS cause uncertainty among parents and medical staff. This places high demands on the healthcare system and, not infrequently, leads to “overdiagnosis.” Objective, material and methods Practical instructions were elaborated based on review articles and guidelines on this topic. Results and discussion The recommendations on acute management in the current literature are consistent. Priority is given to interruption of the seizure and stabilization of the vital parameters. With respect to the decision for subsequent diagnostics, the differentiation between simple and complex FS and the recognition of red flags as indications are highlighted; however, there is no consistent definition of which diagnostic tool should be implemented at which point in time. There are predictive risk factors for the prognosis of further FS or the manifestation of epilepsy over time. Long-term cognitive development disorders have not been reported for simple FS.