Febrile Seizures / Fits

If you have a child at the age of 6 years and below and you have never heard about Febrile Seizures / Fits before, I would highly recommend / suggest you do please read up about it.  Wikipedia, NHS UK, Kid's Health, KK Women & Children Hospital Singapore, Mayo Clinic.

Here's my story.

My girl started having fever on Thursday.  It was not that high and was coming and going.  I have her a dose of paracetamol at night before bed.  On Friday before I left for work, she was still sleeping.  I left her with my parents and told them to give her paracetamol if she keep having fever.  

At about 6pm on Friday, my mom called me and told me to bring my girl to the clinic.  I said if I bring her to clinic, they will only prescribe paracetamol and I already have stock at home.  Just keep giving her paracetamol and sponge her will do, I said.  I reached about 7pm and it was raining heavily.  My daughter was lying on the sofa and was weak.  She greeted me and then went back to lying on the sofa.  I touched her, she was hot.  Fever still.  I asked when was the last dose of paracetamol, and got the reply it was 2pm.  That means the 4 hourly has lapsed and quickly gave her a dose at 7.30pm.  She wanted to eat some kaya bread and I gave her some.

Meanwhile, I went to have my dinner while my husband kept on sponging her.  Suddenly, while holding the kaya bread in her hands, I saw my girl jerking.  I kept calling her and she doesn't reply.  Her eyes were rolling and her body was stiff.  She kept on jerking and I saw water coming out of her mouth although her mouth were tightly shut.  I guessed she has vomited but couldn't open her mouth.  I held her and kept on calling her but she was unresponsive.  Eyes were open but rolling and I told my mom I think she is having fits, and my mom said, don't scare me, it's not lah.  

I went into a panic, which I shouldn't but because I didn't know about Febrile Seizures, I didn't know what to do.  I ran like a headless chicken, drove like a mad woman while my mom held her at the back of the car.  I told my mom to open her mouth and let the vomit out.  Again something I shouldn't have done.  So my mom pried open her mouth and she put her own finger into her mouth.  After sometime, she said her fingers are painful and asked if can put anything else in, and the next thing I knew I told her to put the house keys in.  

We reached the clinic within 10 minutes, ran up and said emergency.  Doctor gave one look and asked, how come didn't bring her in earlier, why waited until fever is so high?  Fever at 40C.  Me being a mom, can't even answer these questions and was just starring at her.

Doctor didn't even tell me about febrile seizures.  Just told me it's just cramps.  Another friend of mine who is a doctor herself is the one who told me about it and finally I read about it.  Exactly the symptoms.

I was angry and upset and frustrated and mad and worried all at the same time.  I depended on my parents to look after her and informed them to give paracetamol every 4 hours and sponge her.  But no. By the time I reached home, it was already too late.  I was so upset that I felt so helpless and couldn't do anything and can't even answer the doctor why like that.

Although febrile fit is harmless, but if you witness one, it is very scary, beyond words, especially your own child.

I have seen fits before in my first dog.  When he was old, he was getting fits frequently.  Whenever he had it, he would collapse on the floor, his tongue sticking out, his eyes glazed and he couldn't move and body kept on jerking.  It would last about 5 minutes each time.  

So I recognised immediately that it is fits and was thinking the worse.  Because shortly after my dog had his fits, we had to put him down.  It was the hardest thing we have to do, but due to humanity sake, we had to do it.  

So, parents out there, I beg you to please read up about Febrile Seizures.  For your own sake, for your child's sake.  And if your child is having high fever, please, please, please keep on sponging so to not let the temperature spike.  Please, I don't want it to happen to anyone as it is super scary.

Doctor told me that my child had throat infection, white spots in throat and throat was red.  She had high fever for 4 days and fever finally broke on Day 5.  Doctor gave voltaren, suppository for the butt, which brings the fever down very quickly and effectively, but can only insert every 8 hours.  None of the paracetamol helped and not even sponging could bring down her fever.  Only with voltaren.  Please buy from pharmacy and keep stock.  

Please share to your family and friends, for your own good.