What is an appropriate strategy to instruct the parents of an 18-month-old child who has just been diagnosed with a febrile seizure and who has a fever of 104F?

What is an appropriate strategy to instruct the parents of an 18-month-old child who has just been diagnosed with a febrile seizure and who has a fever of 104F?

• A. First aid management during a seizure
• B. Dress warmly to avoid chills
• C. Bathe with tepid water
• D. Give aspirin every 4hrs for temp over 101F

Answer: (A)

Teaching parents how to respond during a febrile seizure is the key idea. The most important strategy is first aid management during the seizure. Instruct them to keep the child safe on a flat surface, protect the head, remove surrounding hazards, and avoid restraining movement or putting anything in the mouth. They should time the seizure and seek help if it lasts longer than about five minutes or if another seizure follows. After the seizure, ensure the child is breathing normally and monitor for fever-related concerns; medical follow-up is advised if this is a first febrile seizure or if red flags appear. Fever management is part of care, but it is not the primary educational focus during the acute event. Avoid practices that can cause harm or discomfort: dressing warmly to prevent chills isn’t helpful for febrile seizures and can increase overheating; tepid baths are uncomfortable and can trigger shivering that raises core temperature; and aspirin should not be given to children due to the risk of Reye syndrome.

Teaching parents how to respond during a febrile seizure is the key idea. The most important strategy is first aid management during the seizure. Instruct them to keep the child safe on a flat surface, protect the head, remove surrounding hazards, and avoid restraining movement or putting anything in the mouth. They should time the seizure and seek help if it lasts longer than about five minutes or if another seizure follows. After the seizure, ensure the child is breathing normally and monitor for fever-related concerns; medical follow-up is advised if this is a first febrile seizure or if red flags appear.

Fever management is part of care, but it is not the primary educational focus during the acute event. Avoid practices that can cause harm or discomfort: dressing warmly to prevent chills isn’t helpful for febrile seizures and can increase overheating; tepid baths are uncomfortable and can trigger shivering that raises core temperature; and aspirin should not be given to children due to the risk of Reye syndrome.