Febrile seizures

• Type of seizure that occurs in children with a high fever e.g. due to underlying viral illness or bacterial infection
• Occur only in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years
• In order the make a diagnosis of a febrile convulsion, other neurological pathology must be excluded e.g. epilepsy, meningitis, brain tumour

Management

• Identify and manage underlying infection
• Control the fever with simple analgesia such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Reassure parents

Vasovagal episode

• Most common cause of syncope in children
• Type of reflex syncope, involves vagal stimulation triggered by emotional distress or orthstatic stress
• Typical triggers include: prolonged standing, emotional stress, pain, the sight of blood
• Faint is associated with pallor, sweating and nausea

Management

• Reassurance
• Education - avoidance of triggers, how to avert faint through manoevers to increase venous return e.g. horizonal gravity neutralisation position

Breath holding attacks

• Involuntary episodes during which a child holds their breath, usually triggered by something upsetting or scaring them
• They typically occur between 6 and 18 months of age and most children outgrow them between by 4 or 5 years

Management