Federica Pellegrini he shared on social media every parent’s greatest fear: the one for his daughter Matilde, who will be two years old in January, and who was hospitalized after an episode of febrile convulsions. The Olympic champion described the moment with anguish: «Febrile convulsions, her temperature rises quickly, this time she was sleeping so we didn’t put the Tachipirina immediately and after a minute she went into lockdown… Eyes up, head back and breathing that slowly stopped.” Then, the rush to the hospital and the wait for the little girl to stabilize, in view of the necessary tests. “AND Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again my heart”, wrote Federica Pellegrini.
But what exactly are febrile convulsions? Why can they appear in healthy children, often suddenly? And what are the indications on what to do (and what to avoid) in those minutes that seem like an eternity to parents? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are febrile convulsions
Febrile convulsions are seizures that appear in the children between six months and five years in the presence of high fever. These are not rare events: according to the guide of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital dedicated precisely to febrile convulsions, they are of interest a significant proportion of children in this age group, between 2 and 5%, and in most cases they represent an isolated event, destined to resolve without consequences. Despite the dramatic nature of the symptoms, in fact, these episodes, linked to the rapid increase in body temperature, leave no consequences.
Federica Pellegrini in hospital with her daughter (Instagram @kikkafede88)
Symptoms of febrile convulsions
Simple febrile convulsions are sudden episodes which clearly alter the child’s behavior and motor control. The crisis, clarifies the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, is generalized, that is, it affects the whole body, and presents itself with loss of consciousnessstiffening and widespread shaking of the limbs. The little one appears completely non-reactive, does not respond to stimuli and may assume a fixed or withering expression eyes turned upwards. The crisis generally lasts a few seconds or minutes, although to a parent it may seem like an eternity. Once the episode is over, the child may appear tired, confused or in need of rest, but tends to recover quickly.
Why they appear
Baby Jesus explains that febrile convulsions do not depend on the severity of the infection causing the fever. They can also occur during very common diseases, because what triggers the crisis is above all the rapid rise in temperature. The risk of a new episode exists, especially in younger children and when the fever rises quickly, but it still remains benign phenomenon destined to disappear with growth.
What to do during febrile convulsions
The hospital’s instructions are clear: in the event of febrile convulsions in children, you must remain calm, protect the child and place it on its side to prevent him from inhaling saliva or vomit. It is important not to try to block the movements and not to put anything in the mouth. Once the crisis, which does not last long, is over, the little one must be evaluated by a doctor to confirm that it is a febrile convulsion and to identify the cause of the increased temperature.