BABY AND CHILDHOOD NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MUSCLE DISORDERS: CONVULSIONS
'Melinda is having a fit. She looks awful, and I think she is dying!' The time was 2 a.m., and I had been awakened by the shrill noise of my bedside telephone.
'Can you come and have a look at her ... but please be quick.' It was Dianne, and her first child Melinda was now about two or three years old. Knowing the fear of a convulsion in the middle of the night, I was only too happy to roll out, don some clothes and head for their home.
'She just started to make this funny noise which woke us up. When we got there, she was making these weird movements and frothing at the mouth, and she obviously could not hear us speak to her.' Dianne was bubbling over with excitement and concern.
A few moments later and I was examining the tiny form. By now the movements vividly described by her mother were subsiding, although she was breathing heavily. I touched her little forehead. She was very hot.
'Is she running a fever?' Dianne asked.
'She is certain hot,' I answered. 'And I think this is the most likely cause of the problem.'
'Will she die?' Dianne's voice anxiously cut in.
'No. She will not die,' I reassured her. 'She will be quite all right in a very short space of time.'
I could hear Dianne heave a sigh of relief.
'But I do want to find out what caused the convulsions,' I continued.
It didn't take long. As I examined the little girl, I soon discovered she had a very inflamed ear. 'Infected ears, Dianne,' I said. 'She has run a sudden fever because of this infection. This has resulted in an overheating of the brain cells, and in turn the convulsion took place. It will soon settle down.'
I explained that most cases of childhood fits were because of local infections causing fevers that the child was not able to cope with. Usually, when the body cooled down, and the infection was brought under control, there was no further danger.
A very small number are early epileptics, but most are not, and in the majority of cases, no fits occur again. In some cases, with subsequent fevers, convulsions could happen, so keeping a careful eye on the child for any danger signals is a good idea.
Treatment
Treating a convulsion in the middle of the night is usually simple. Cooling the fevered patient is the first essential. A quick cool sponge is the best start, for this can rapidly reduce high temperatures in infants. Sometimes a cool bath is worthwhile, but it should be done with care.
Do not try to give an unconscious child any medication. Elixirs (such as paracetamol) aimed at reducing fevers are suitable, but only after the child has again become fully conscious. Also, any doctor-ordered antibiotics must be given only to a frilly conscious and alert child. Otherwise they could cause choking, and an even worse situation.
I was able to reassure Dianne that her child would be all right. Cooling Melinda down was the starting point. After this, when she was again fully conscious, some fluids, temperature reducers and some antibiotics would be given.
As it so happened, by treating Melinda's infected ear, she rapidly improved, and within a few days was her normal happy self. She never had any more fits, although Dianne was quite competent after this to follow the simple measures of treatment herself.
Not panicking is very important if a child has a fit. Many young parents seeing a convulsion for the first time tend to panic. This does nobody any good and only creates further alarm and reduces the parents' efficiency and value.
Keep your fingers out of the child's mouth, for the bite may be very severe. Lie the infant on her side. No longer are pegs or spoons shoved between the teeth, for this may cause them to be damaged and seldom does it help.
It is important that any child having a convulsion be supervised by the doctor. A certain number may be early epileptics, and special investigation and treatment may be necessary.
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General Health
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