What is the Difference Between Simple and Complex Febrile Seizure?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between simple and complex febrile seizures lies in their duration, recurrence, and focality. Here are the key distinctions between the two types:
Simple Febrile Seizures:
- Are the most common type of febrile seizures.
- Characterized by a single generalized seizure.
- Last less than 15 minutes.
- Do not recur within a 24-hour period.
- Have a lower risk of developing epilepsy later on (approximately 1-2%).
- Do not cause brain damage, intellectual disability, or learning disabilities.
Complex Febrile Seizures:
- Include focal seizures, prolonged seizures, or recurrent seizures within a 24-hour period.
- Last longer than 15 minutes, occur more than once within 24 hours, or are confined to one side of the child's body.
- Have a higher risk of developing epilepsy later on (approximately 5-10%), especially in children with a history of abnormal neurodevelopment or a family history of epilepsy.
Both simple and complex febrile seizures are most often associated with a fever and occur within 24 hours of the onset of the fever. Regardless of the type, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional after a child's first febrile seizure for proper evaluation and management.
Comparative Table: Simple vs Complex Febrile Seizure
Simple and complex febrile seizures are both types of seizures that occur in children with fever, but they have distinct differences. Here is a table summarizing the main differences between simple and complex febrile seizures:
Feature | Simple Febrile Seizures | Complex Febrile Seizures |
---|---|---|
Duration | Last less than 15 minutes | Last 15 minutes or more |
Symptoms | Generalized tonic-clonic seizures without focal features | Focal features, such as one side of the body being involved |
Recurrence | Occur once in 24 hours | Recur within 24 hours |
Consciousness | Return to full consciousness within one hour | Full consciousness not observed after one hour |
Post-ictal Neurologic Consequences | No post-ictal neurologic consequences | Presence of post-ictal neurologic consequences, such as Todd's paralysis |
Simple febrile seizures are more common and generally have no long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. Complex febrile seizures, on the other hand, are less common and can be associated with a higher risk of future unprovoked seizures. Risk factors for complex febrile seizures include age under 12 months, history of febrile or unprovoked seizures in first-degree relatives, low temperature at the onset of the febrile seizure, and a focal initial febrile seizure.
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