Prognosis
Prognosis for normal neurologic function is excellent.
- About one third of children who experience a single simple febrile seizure will have another.
- The lifetime rate of epilepsy in these children is slightly above that of the general population.[4]
A Danish population-based study by Norgaard et al found little association between febrile seizures and cognitive function. Data linked from health-care databases and conscript records of Danish men born from 1977-1983 showed that, of the 18,276 eligible conscripts, 507 (2.8%) had a record of hospitalization with febrile seizures and no known history of epilepsy. Compared with conscripts with no record of febrile seizures, the adjusted prevalence ratio for having a Boerge Prien intelligence test score in the bottom quartile was 1.08 (95% confidence index [CI], 0.94-1.25). The adjusted prevalence ratios were 1.38 (95% CI, 1.07-1.79) for febrile seizures with an onset age of 3 months to < 1 year, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.80-1.18) for febrile seizures with an onset age of 1-2 years, and 1.14 (95% CI, 0.79-1.66) for an onset age of 3-5 years.[5]
Patient Education
- Inform parents that these dramatic events do not indicate future neurologic dysfunction or disease.
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Brain and Nervous System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Seizures and Fever and Seizures in Children.
Winawer M, Hesdorffer D. Turning on the heat: the search for febrile seizure genes. Neurology. Nov 23 2004;63(10):1770-1. [Medline].
Vestergaard M, Pedersen MG, Ostergaard JR, Pedersen CB, Olsen J, Christensen J. Death in children with febrile seizures: a population-based cohort study. Lancet. Aug 9 2008;372(9637):457-63. [Medline].
Rosman NP, Colton T, Labazzo J, et al. A controlled trial of diazepam administered during febrile illnesses to prevent recurrence of febrile seizures. N Engl J Med. Jul 8 1993;329(2):79-84. [Medline].
Verity CM, Golding J. Risk of epilepsy after febrile convulsions: a national cohort study. BMJ. Nov 30 1991;303(6814):1373-6. [Medline].
[Best Evidence] Nørgaard M, Ehrenstein V, Mahon BE, Nielsen GL, Rothman KJ, Sørensen HT. Febrile seizures and cognitive function in young adult life: a prevalence study in Danish conscripts. J Pediatr. Sep 2009;155(3):404-9. [Medline].
Baumann RJ. Technical report: treatment of the child with simple febrile seizures. Pediatrics. Jun 1999;103(6):e86. [Medline].
[Guideline] Febrile seizures: clinical practice guideline for the long-term management of the child with simple febrile seizures. Pediatrics. Jun 2008;121(6):1281-6. [Medline].
[Guideline] Practice parameter: the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a first simple febrile seizure. American Academy of Pediatrics. Provisional Committee on Quality Improvement, Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures. Pediatrics. May 1996;97(5):769-72; discussion 773-5. [Medline].
[Guideline] Riemenschneider TA, Baumann RJ, Duffner PK, et al. Practice parameter: the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a first simple febrile seizure. American Academy of Pediatrics. Provisional Committee on Quality Improvement, Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures. Pediatrics. May 1996;97(5):769-72; discussion 773-5. [Medline].
Thoman JE, Duffner PK, Shucard JL. Do serum sodium levels predict febrile seizure recurrence within 24 hours?. Pediatr Neurol. Nov 2004;31(5):342-4. [Medline].

