Preventing convulsions in children

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital

Convulsions in children are most commonly caused by high fever but can also be caused by other causes and are life-threatening if not handled promptly. Convulsions in children do not have a specific prevention. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to the possible causes of seizures in children, thereby minimizing those risks.

Seizure is a neurological disorder of consciousness, behavior, movement, sensation that is common in children under 3 years of age and about 10% of children have seizures until 16 years of age.
There are many different causes of convulsions in children as follows:
Infection: Conditions such as brain abscess, encephalitis and meningitis, parasitic infections in the brain will cause seizures in children. Neurological diseases: Neurological diseases such as birth trauma, congenital nervous system defects, brain degeneration, cerebral hypoxia can also cause seizures in children. Metabolic disorders: Disorders such as hypercapnia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypoxemia, congenital metabolic abnormalities, pyridoxine deficiency will cause children to experience a series of problems such as lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. , fever, diarrhea or even coma and convulsions. Trauma or blood vessel abnormalities: Diseases such as cerebrovascular accident, brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage can all cause seizures in children. Poisoning: Children with alcohol poisoning, anti-allergic drugs, narcotic drugs, toxic gases, drug poisoning will have a convulsive reaction.

Seizures in children often have the following characteristics:
Generalized convulsions, usually myoclonus. Many times seizures are atypical, brief. Children < 3 years old often have febrile convulsions. When parents notice that their child is having a seizure, they need to do the following:
Be calm and take the child out of danger as well as avoid risks that may cause injury to the child. If a child is only having a convulsion due to a high fever, there is no need to take the child to the hospital for examination, because the prognosis is usually mild and does not affect the child's development. Parents should use measures to cool down the child. Parents must not try to open the child's mouth or put anything in the mouth because it may break the child's teeth. Soft gauze or clean cloth can be inserted to prevent the child from biting the tongue. Have the child lie on his or her side and pay attention to the child's airway, to avoid airway obstruction if the child vomits. Children's clothing can be loosened or removed. Absolutely do not arbitrarily give children sedatives without a doctor's prescription. Then, parents quickly take the child to the nearest hospital or medical center for examination, diagnosis of the cause of the convulsion and treatment, to avoid the next convulsion. In addition to handling convulsions in children, parents need to pay attention to the following points to provide information to the doctor, convenient during examination:
Symptoms of convulsions in children include diffuse or localized set? How long is the seizure? How many seizures did you have before going to the hospital and how is your child's body temperature and consciousness? Has the child ever had a convulsion in the past and is it related to a medical condition? Child's mental state before and after the seizure? Does the child have vomiting and pain anywhere? The child's medical history, previous trauma. Is the child taking any medication by mistake? Children having convulsions is not a rare case, but parents need to be alert, not panic and have a quick and timely treatment plan, examine to determine the cause to have an appropriate treatment plan. fit.

Currently, there is no specific way to prevent convulsions in children. Parents need to pay attention to the possible causes of seizures in children, thereby minimizing the risk of causing this condition. Specifically:
If a child has a high fever, especially a child under 5 years old, parents should use cooling methods such as letting the child drink more water, can drink more orange and grapefruit juice to increase vitamin C, Apply a cool towel to the forehead, wipe the child's body with warm water, use fever-reducing medicine... Dehydration and electrolytes can cause convulsions, parents need to pay attention to supplement the child by oral, injection or water transmission. If the child has a history of epilepsy, it is necessary to closely monitor the child and have an appropriate treatment plan, absolutely do not stop taking antiepileptic drugs suddenly because it can make the condition more serious. In addition, a child's daily diet can also have a certain influence on seizures, so parents need to pay attention to the following: Add enough protein and calcium-rich food groups in your child's diet. Children such as lean meat, shrimp, crab, seafood, eggs... Should eat more green vegetables, soluble fiber found in spinach, kale, cauliflower, oranges, grapefruit, raspberries, cabbage... Limit the use of foods containing a lot of sugar, MSG, additives, fast food, carbonated soft drinks... Teach children healthy living habits such as sleeping on time, not staying up late, limiting exposure to electronic devices such as phones, computers, televisions. In summary, convulsions in children are not uncommon. The level of danger depends on the cause of the seizure. However, convulsions accompanied by fever can be a sign of some serious infections such as meningitis, encephalitis,... Therefore, after a child has a febrile convulsion, parents need to Take your baby to the doctor right away to be checked by a doctor and have a timely treatment plan.
Currently, the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is trusted by many parents to examine the diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to. Vinmec brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts by:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: Including leading experts with high professional qualifications ( professor, associate professor, doctorate, master), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108... The doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious - understanding and understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.