Febrile seizures are the most common type of seizures observed in the pediatric age group. Although described by the ancient Greeks, it was not until this century that febrile seizures were recognized as a distinct syndrome separate from epilepsy.
Febrile seizures are usually benign but can cause considerable parental anxiety.
Recent studies have defined a group of patients at higher risk for febrile seizures and a group likely to have recurrence of febrile seizures. This is a time when young children are susceptible to frequent infections and respond with comparably higher temperatures. About one third of these patients have at least one recurrence. Risk factors for epilepsy later in life include complex febrile seizure, family history of epilepsy or neurologic abnormality, and developmental delay. By definition, febrile seizures occur in children aged 3 months to 5 years.