Alexander was unwell, and had been vomiting from 2am... off and on until 4am Thursday.
He also had an accompanying fever, which I gave him Calpol for.
At 5:50pm last night, he had a febrile convulsion. I hope none of you ever see your child convulse. I am normally a calm rational individual, and I lost it. I called 999, and they had us on hold for nearly 5 minutes to get the ambulance despatched. Luckily, I had the presense of mind to take him outside where it was cool, and it stopped.
They FINALLY got to us, and told me to place him on the floor, and remove his clothing, which I had already done.
He is fine, and back to normal, now. I was so worried that this would cause some sort of brain damage as it seemed to have lasted so long.
We got to A&E and he was crying, which is good, as he never lost conciousness. He just needs to be kept cool, and it turns out he has an ear infection, so along with anti-biotics, I have to make sure I give him paracetemol 6 times a day and nurophen 4 times a day.
He is back to his old self.
You would never know that it happened.
When we were at the hospital, He was a bit listless, which was understandable, as it must have been exhausting for him.
I began to sing him the Xander/Anya duet from (get this) Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We have the CD and DVD from the musical episode, and it is one of his favorites. Jon chimed in of course for the Xander parts, Xan sat up, smiled and started to sing, too. That was when I KNEW he was going to be ok.
It's been a long night, and we put the fan in the room, and gave him Calpol and Nurophen. They did this at the hospital, and said that it is perfectly safe to do this. Just make sure that you give him the calpol every 4 hours, and the Nurophen every 6. Xan was fine. all cooing, and cute, and wanting to cuddle up.
Yes, I was pissed about the 5 minute hold for the ambulance. I know that this could happen again, as he is now going to be prone to this sort of thing. Apparently, it happened to Jon once when he was about the same age, and if one parent has had a febrile convulsion, the chances of your child getting one increases.
Thank all the dieties he is ok, now... Now I have to get a pee sample from him (joy) as they also want to rule out the possibility of a urinary infection, too.
I thought I would post some info in case this ever happens to any of you with kids.
What is a febrile convulsion?
A febrile convulsion is a common medical condition. Approximately three percent of children aged 6 months to 6 years have a convulsion when they have a fever or high temperature.
What happens?
The febrile convulsion or fit happens when the normal brain activity is disturbed. It usually occurs without warning. During the fit your child may:
become stiff or floppy
become unconscious or unaware of their surroundings
display jerking or twitching movements
have difficulty breathing.
What can the doctors do for my child?
Your child's fit may stop without any medical treatment. If it does not stop within 5 minutes, the doctor will need to manage the fit and ensure it is treated quickly.
Even though the high temperature is usually related to a viral infection, the doctor will need to examine your child to try and understand the cause of the high temperature. Further investigations or blood tests may need to be done to rule out other causes for the fever.
Can my child get another convulsion the next time they have a fever?
Yes. The chance of having another febrile convulsion in the following year is 30%, but this means that 70% (or 7 out of 10 children) will not have another fit. The risk of a second fit reduces every year and it becomes extremely rare after they turn 6 years old.
What does the future hold for my child?
The outlook for a child with simple febrile convulsions is excellent. There is no evidence of "brain damage" in these children. Your child is at no greater risk of developing epilepsy in the future than children who have not had a febrile convulsion.
What should I do when my child develops fever in the future?
To reduce the fever you can use medicines, such as paracetamol (Panadol, Dymadon or Tylenol) as directed. Remember that these medications will make your child feel better from the fever but they do not treat the infection that caused the fever. These medicines do not prevent the fit from occurring. You should take your child to see your local doctor if your child looks unwell or if the fever persists.
What should I do if my child has a convulsion in the future?
Remember, most fits will stop within seconds or a couple of minutes without any medical treatment.
Stay calm.
Look at your watch or a clock and time the convulsion.
Do not try to restrain your child and do not put anything in their mouth.
Stay with your child and lie them on their side.
Loosen tight clothing from around the neck and move objects away that may cause injury.
Arrange to see your local doctor/general practitioner after the convulsion has stopped.
Call an ambulance (phone 999) if:
the fit last more than 5 minutes
another fit starts up after the first one stops
your child has difficulty breathing or looks particularly unwell.
Why is my child sleepy after the episode?
Your child's brain will become tired after the fit and your child will need time to recover. If your child remains drowsy or difficult to rouse after sleep, you should seek medical attention.
Is there any treatment available if my child has more frequent febrile convulsions at home?
There is a medication called Diazepam that is sometimes recommended for children who have frequent febrile convulsions or if the child has a history of febrile convulsions that last longer then 5 minutes. Most children do not require this medication. If you would like more information about this treatment you should talk with your doctor.
Are there any other medications available to prevent febrile convulsions?
Yes, however these medications have to be taken every day and they can have serious side effects. Because the outlook for children with febrile convulsions is so good, these regular medications are rarely necessary.
