ARE FEBRILE SEIZURES PROVOKED BY A RAPID RISE IN TEMPERATURE

Pediatricians are frequently taught that a rapid rise in temperature i s responsible for causing a febrile seizure; yet there are no clinical data to support this hypothesis. The few experimental data are based on hyperthermia-induced seizures in animals and are of no clear releva nce to naturally occurring fevers and accompanying seizures. Further, the experimental findings are not consistent across studies. By contra st, there is substantial evidence indicating that the height of temper ature plays a role in eliciting a febrile seizure. Although febrile se izures are now recognized as benign and, in general, a disorder that s hould not be treated with chronic anticonvulsant therapy, an understan ding of how fevers lead to febrile seizures may be useful for evaluati ng the appropriateness and efficacy of treatments that involve intermi ttent therapy given at the time of fever.