Pediatric fever convulsions, medically known as high-hot convulsions, are one of the most common acute conditions in paediatrics. Most of the children between 6 months and 5 years of age are prone to a sharp rise in body temperature, especially when it exceeds 39°C. The convulsions are usually manifested in a whole-body or local muscle strength or a spasm convulsion, with a obscurity of the eyeballs, a tilt, a straight hair or a flip, and a loss of consciousness. This phenomenon is often feared by parents, but it is critical to have the right emergency response and to be able to protect the health of children at critical times.
I. Stay calm and prevent miscalculation
Parents try to stay calm when they detect convulsions. Frightenedness not only fails to help the child, but may lead to miscalculation and manipulation. The child ‘ s state is to be judged quickly and the convulsion is to be determined as a result of the high fever. In general, high-hot convulsions are more likely if the child is previously suffering from heat symptoms and high temperature, and if there are sudden signs of whole-body convulsions, loss of consciousness, etc. However, if it is not possible to determine the cause of the illness, or if the convulsion of the child is prolonged, accompanied by vomiting and a history of head injuries, the first-aid telephone should be called immediately to seek the help of a professional medical practitioner.
II. Ensuring environmental security
During a convulsion, a safe environment is the primary guarantee. Removal of potentially harmful objects around the child, such as sharp toys, tables and chairs, to avoid collisions during convulsions. Soft clothing or towels can be placed on the child ‘ s lower body to prevent direct contact with the hard ground. At the same time, do not force pressure on the child ‘ s limbs and try to prevent convulsions, which may result in fractures or other accidental injuries.
III. Correct position
It’s more appropriate to put the child in the back. This contributes to the natural flow of oral secretions and prevents suffocation by missorption. The head of the child can be slightly sidelined and the respiratory tract kept open. If the child is lying flat, the head should be turned to one side and the excreta of the mouth and nasal cavities should be cleaned up in a timely manner. Children are not given water, medicine or food during convulsions in order to avoid cough.
IV. Temperature dissipation
Temperature measures should be taken as soon as possible, provided that the child is safe. The children ‘ s forehead, neck, armpits, groin, etc. can be wiped with warm towels to remove heat by evaporation of water and to act as physical cooling. It is also possible to use a cooling sticker on the forehead of the child to assist in cooling. If a deflammation drug is available at home and the child’s consciousness is gradually restored after convulsion has stopped, the child may be given a deflammation drug, such as bloven or acetaminophenol, at a dose in the instruction document to reduce the body temperature. It should be noted, however, that children are not forced to be fed when they have convulsions.
V. Caution and documentation
During a child ‘ s convulsion and after the convulsion has ceased, parents closely monitor the child ‘ s performance and record it. The observations include the duration of the convulsions, the severity of the convulsions, changes in body temperature, breathing conditions, colour and state of consciousness. This information is of great value for the doctor to make an accurate assessment of the child ‘ s condition and to develop a reasonable treatment programme. If the convulsion lasts longer than 5 minutes, or after the convulsion is stopped, the child is in a very poor state of mental health, breathing disorder, etc., and should immediately be taken to the hospital for further treatment.
VI. Timely access to treatment
Even if the convulsion stopped and the situation improved, the child should be taken to a hospital for a full examination as soon as possible. The doctor conducts a detailed medical examination of the child, blood tests, etc., to determine the causes of high fever convulsions, e.g., if an infection exists, etc., and treats the child accordingly. Every effort is made to keep the child quiet and to avoid upheavals and to keep a close eye on the child ‘ s condition.
In general, high fever convulsions, while seemingly dangerous, can significantly reduce the risk and buy valuable time for the child, provided that parents have the right emergency response. At the same time, prevention is better than cure, and in daily life, care is taken to keep children warm, to increase and reduce their clothing in a timely manner in response to weather events, to improve their exercise, to improve their health, to prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases and to reduce the incentive for high fever twitching.
