febrile seizure

Q: The main determinant of febrile seizures is? (select one) 

A) the maximum height of a fever 
B) the rate of rise of fever


Answer: A

Although there is some disagreement among experts most studies show that maximum height of the fever instead of the rate of rising is the main risk of febrile seizures. Said that there are many factors that contribute to the clinical condition including patient's seizure threshold, underlying infection, co-morbidities, medications, age, and water and electrolyte imbalances.

#neurology
#infectious-diseases 


References:

MILLICHAP JG. Studies in febrile seizures. I. Height of body temperature as a measure of the febrile-seizure threshold. Pediatrics 1959; 23:76. 

 Berg AT, Shinnar S, Shapiro ED, et al. Risk factors for a first febrile seizure: a matched case-control study. Epilepsia 1995; 36:334.