A 20-month-old girl has a 2-minute generalized tonic-clonic seizure during a viral illness with temperature 39.1°C. She rapidly returns to baseline,

Question

A 20-month-old girl has a 2-minute generalized tonic-clonic seizure during a viral illness with temperature 39.1°C. She rapidly returns to baseline, has no focal neurological findings, and has no previous afebrile seizures. Her parents are frightened. What should you tell this patient?

Accepted Answer

This episode is consistent with a simple febrile seizure and does not require chronic antiseizure medication

Answer

A CT head is required before discharge if she remains well as the preferred next management strategy

Answer

Daily antiseizure medication should begin to prevent epilepsy as the preferred next management strategy

Answer

She should avoid routine childhood vaccines as the preferred next management strategy in this patient

Answer

Fever medicine prevents recurrence reliably as the preferred next management strategy in this patient

Simple febrile seizure — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

A 20-month-old girl has a 2-minute generalized tonic-clonic seizure during a viral illness with temperature 39.1°C. She rapidly returns to baseline, has no focal neurological findings, and has no previous afebrile seizures. Her parents are frightened. What should you tell this patient?