My Granddaughter Had Several Febrile Seizures, One After Another over a 45 Min.

Updated on January 04, 2011
K.M. asks from Rockdale, TX
9 answers

We took her to the local ER, they were not prepared. They cut an adult suppository in 1/3 and put cool towels on her trying to get the fever down. The doctor gave her valium and she started apnea. Then they finally got a pharmacist to bring an anti-siezure med for her. They then tried to fly her to Austin, but it was to overcast. We went by ambulance to Children's in AU. She was there for three days and it took her four days to return to normal. (facial tics, strange mouth movements, walking funny. The did blood tests, spinal tap, eeg and mri. They said her slow return to norm was due to the medications she was given. Do febrile seizures really last this long? Was this proper care?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the replies. All of her tests were normal. Today was the first day she acted totally normal. She was onery and funny all day. It was such a relief! I failed to mention...she was with me when this happened. She had taken a nap, said she was hungry, I gave her a glass of milk, went to fix her soup and from the time I put her in the high chair until she seized was about 2 minutes. Her temp had gone to 104 in that short period. The only lasting affect has been...she refuses to drink milk. Her mom was given a syringe of an anti-seizure med to give her if she has another seizure that lasts more than 5 min. After all the research I have done and input I have received, I believe prayer is the best treatment. God Bless you all and may he keep our children and grandchildren safe.

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

I can sympathize with you a great deal. My oldest son had his first febrille seizure at 18 months and was in the hospital for 4 days as well. The ER staff was clueless, which is what yours sounds like as well. They told me horrible things like that they did not know when he would come out of it and there may be permanent damage, that they couldn't do anything to get the fever down, and even talked down to me when I was asking questions and desperate, such as saying in a rude tone "what do you want us to do, stick him in an ice water bath, we don't do that anymore." They gave him a spinal tap and had me go into the chaplain's office to wait with no explanation. I sat there for about 2 seconds then went back out. There was no one even in there and they wanted me to sit there without telling me why. When my son's pediatrician arrived, it was like a whole new world. He checked my son out and told me the seizures were scary but harmless and he would outgrow them with no permanent damage. He answered my questions and made me feel so much better. I know ERs aren't known for their welcoming committees, but the way they treated me and talked to me while my baby was sick just disgusted me. I know how scary the seizures can be. My son was in his car seat while we were driving when he had his. We stopped the car and ran him up to the first house we saw and took him in. The family there helped and called 911 while he was laying on the floor seizing. He turned blue in the face and his little fingernails were blue. Then he threw up and it was over. It took hours for him to respond in the hospital and it was scary to watch him act so different. He had a few more seizures but not as severe and he was done with them before age 5. It is also alarming if they come with high fever as well. My son had over 106 when he got to the hospital, and it had come down from where it was at first. The pediatrician said for little kids like that the high fever is not near as worrisome as if it were in an adult. I can tell you I spent many sleepless nights monitoring fevers and timing the doses of motrin and tylenol. It never gets easier to go through, but after the first time and after getting proper information, it is not quite as bad to endure. I wish you and your grandaughter all the best and strength for handling these tough situations.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.J.

answers from Houston on

My son has febrile seizures occasionally (that last only a minute at most) and the advice I have always been given is to just let them happen. His pediatrician and the local children's hospital we took him to the first time he had one said to make sure he was secure (so he wouldnt fall off of his bed and break his arm or something) but dont restrain him; then when the seizure is over to comfort him and keep him comfortable. They are supposed to "grow out" of the seizures by the time they are five. I guess they dont do any damage to their brains or anything else but mostly they are just really scary. He has NEVER been given any prescribed medication for them. We were only told to give him Tylenol or Motrin to lower his fever. I cannot believe a hospital would give a child adult medicine. I would definitely get a second opinion, or even a law suit if the treatment they provided has caused long term side-effects. My son wasnt even kept in the hospital....we were there for several hours and sent home.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

oh my goodness. if i were you, i would contact a good doctor (by phone if you must) to get an opinion about whether this was the proper care. plus, i would have her checked out by a good PEDIATRIC doctor/neurologist to rule out other causes for seizures such as epilepsy, etc. My son had a febrile seizure but it lasted a few minutes only and he wasn't given any meds in the ER except tylenol and motrin to bring the fever down. he had a spinal tap to rule out meningitis and blood drawn for tests b/c he was also turning blue but it turned out he had RSV which is why his fever was so high and he couldn't breathe too well. i've never heard of valium being used for febrile seizures before but i'm not a doctor. get a professional opinion asap. best of luck and i'm sorry you and your family had to go through this. hope she's feeling better...

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W.J.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter Had several seizures. I know every case is different but this is not similar. North central baptist has a pediatric emergency room and wonderful staff. I also recommend seeing Dr Jerry Tomasovic. He is a pedi neurologist because my baby had so many seizures we saw hi
To rule out epilepsy and other near issues.

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

Some seizures can be connected to adrenal disease. Specifically, low blood sugar or high adrenaline. Google this.

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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I dont know if this helps, but we have one hospital around here that is great with peds. I dont think they are all well equipt to handle peds. I could be wrong though. I only go to the one around here that is.

I am so sorry that this happened to you and your family. I hope she is feeling much better now. I would be very careful when she gets a fever from now on.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about the treatment, but I do believe a febrile seizure could last that long. Her parents will probably now be trained to keep an eye out for fever and quickly give tylenol or motrin to lower the risk of another seizure.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

It does not surprise me that it took a few days for her to return to normal.
What did the tests show. Usually febrile seizures are benign and you
learn how to ride it out. I know, sounds crazy. Some kids are just
prone to them and there are no lasting effects. The next time she gets
sick, try to keep the fever down as soon as possible. Although, I know
that is not always possible.

I guess if it was me, I would make an appt with neurologist just to play it
safe. Better to be safe than sorry.

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S.P.

answers from Austin on

This sounds very much like my daughter's care in Austin about 4 years ago (before the new children's hospital). She had a 45 minute febrile convulsion and went by ambulance to the old children's hospital. She was given valium in the ambulance and they put an IV into her leg attached somehow to the bone so they could administer meds (and put another IV in her as well). When I arrived at the hospital, she was unconscious and unresponsive (and remained so for about 10 more hours), they told us it was the meds and the duration of the seizure too. She got a spinal tap, eeg, blood tests, cultures of nearly every type to see what was causing the infection and she saw the pediatric neurologist. When she finally became responsive it was horrifying as her eyes were swollen and she looked like she had Down's Syndrome. She was in the hospital 3 additional days and was still spiking fevers when she left. They gave us a prescription of valuim in case she ever had another one that lasted more than 10 minutes. I worried CONSTANTLY that she would have another, that she really had epilepsy and would keep having seizures, that I would forget/lose someone would steal the medication or that she wouldn't be smart or able to learn. I am happy to report that in more than 4 1/2 years she has not ever had another one of any length and she is very smart and happy. Hopefully your grandaughter will do as well. I wish you and your family all the best and will keep you in my prayers, I know how scared you must be.

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