children s health issues
Febrile Seizures
Diagnosis of Febrile Seizures
A doctor's evaluation Sometimes a spinal tap, blood tests, or brain imaging Because parents cannot tell whether children have a brain infection, which is life-threatening, children who have a fever and who have a seizure for the first time or are very sick should be taken to the emergency department immediately for evaluation. Doctors examine the children and, depending on what they find, sometimes do tests to check for serious disorders that can cause seizures. These tests may include A Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture) with analysis of fluid from around the spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) to check for meningitis and encephalitis Blood tests to measure levels of sugar (glucose), calcium, magnesium, sodium, or other substances to check for metabolic disorders Cultures of blood and urine to check for infections Sometimes, imaging of the brain with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Electroencephalography (a test that checks for abnormal electrical activity in the brain) for children who have certain symptoms or who have repeat seizures 