Febrile Convulsions: A Reappraisal.

Convulsions occurring with fever in children between 6 months and 5 years of age have long been a subject of great interest to pediatricians for, without doubt, febrile seizures are the most common neurological problem in infancy and early childhood. A diversity of opinions exists regarding possible etiologic factors, the significance of inheritance, the relationship of febrile seizures to recurrent febrile or nonfebrile convulsions, and the long-term prognosis for the child with single or multiple febrile convulsions. Opinions on these matters are about as freely offered as are predictions for next week's weather, and frequently with even less scientific basis than the amateur meteorological forecast. The debate regarding the efficacy of prophylactic anticonvulsants in the prevention of recurrent febrile or nonfebrile convulsions is as likely as not to open with statements such as "the administration of long term anticonvulsants is tantamount to labeling the child as an epileptic," or "convulsions