My daughter normally sleeps thru the night, but will occasionally cry usually less than a minute and then put herself back to sleep. (probably happnens if she rolls and hits side of crib. Last night she cried longer, so after about 5 minutes, I went and picked her up. She was very warm, not over dressed either. She had a 99.8 temp. She does have a little cold tho. I took her to bed with me, at 3:00 am she woke up with her whole body spasming every few seconds and screamed each time it spasmed. Each time it was like a hard jolt on the whole body and she would scream each time. I called 911 and ambulance came, but by that time it had subsided and she was ok again so they left. It happened again around 5:00. I called 911 again and that time they took her in to the ER, the Doc said it wasn't epileptic since she had full muscle function and was able to hold/squeeze me when they happened. He thinks it's just part of the virus that she has. Anyone else have this happen lately? I was so scared for her and was in tears at hospital before Doc came in.
Cheri - Counds like fever induced convulsions. When my 15 year old son was 2, he had a fever and all the sudden went into a seizure, eyes rolled back, body convulsed. It was super scary. I called 911 and by the time they got there it was over. Got his fever down and we were good to go. Just keep an eye out for any further issues but my guess is it probably won't even happen again even the next time they have a fever. Good luck to you! K.
Cheri,
Well, it's not exactly like your issue, but since the doctor thought it was due to the virus, I just thought I'd share what happened to us a few months back.
Late last year, my son, who was just about 2, got this sick and I took him in several times because he had a fever. He started having trouble walking, he was in pain around the hips. The doctor kinda checked him over for some things, but said there was nothing she could find.
I was told that it was the virus, that sometimes they settle in the bones, but it goes away. We were lucky, it went away, so that must have been what it was.
Did the doctor say she was having febrile convulsions? This can happen when children have high fevers (102 or higher). It's the body's way of coping with the fever.
Here's more information from the medical website NHS direct:
Febrile convulsions are fits (seizures) that sometimes happen in a child with a high temperature. Febrile means related to fever. They can happen as a result of any illness that causes a high temperature, over 39C (102F).
Febrile convulsions usually happen between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.
Febrile convulsions can be frightening for parents, especially as they look like epileptic fits. Epilepsy is when a person has fits that aren't just caused by fever.
Children who have one febrile convulsion, are more likely to have another during the same illness or another illness. There is a slightly higher risk that they will go on to develop epilepsy. This is very rare, but the risk increases if the fit is unusual or severe, if there is a family history of epilepsy, or if the child had brain or development abnormalities before the febrile convulsion.
Around 3 children in every 100 have at least one febrile convulsion.
Most febrile convulsions last less than five minutes.
A complicated or complex seizure is when the seizure:
focuses on one particular part of the body, for example one arm twitches and shakes, but the rest of the body does not;
lasts more than 15 minutes; or
happens soon after another seizure, during the same illness.
Febrile convulsions usually last less than a minute, but they can continue for up to 5 minutes. They usually happen on the first day of an illness and do not always happen when the child's temperature is hottest. In fact, a febrile convulsion is sometimes the first sign that the child is ill.
At first the child looks hot and flushed, because of their temperature.
They become dazed or confused and black out (lose consciousness). At this point they may fall down if they have been sitting or standing.
The child's muscles tighten and this may cause them to moan or cry out.
They may stop breathing (usually for around 30 seconds) and their skin may turn a little blue.
Muscles in the arms, legs and face, and other parts of the body, twitch and shake.
The child's eyes may roll backwards.
Many children also lose control of their bladder or bowel.
They often fall into a deep sleep afterwards.
If the fit goes on for more than 5 minutes, it is important to get medical help by calling 999 for an ambulance. However, they are usually fairly short, and the child makes a full recovery. Febrile convulsions can be worrying for parents because they look similar to an epileptic fit.
Most children only ever have one febrile convulsion, but around 3 in 10 have a second convulsion in a later, separate, illness. Children are more likely to have further fits if the first was when they were very young, or if the child has a close relative (such as a parent or sibling) who had febrile convulsions.
Some people may be more likely to have febrile convulsions because they have inherited particular genes from their parents. About 20% of children who have one febrile convulsion also have a close relative who has had seizures.
Children who have frequent illnesses and infections are also more likely to have febrile convulsions.
Febrile convulsions can happen as a result of any illness that causes a high temperature, over 39C (102F). Illnesses that most commonly cause febrile convulsions include viral upper respiratory infections such as flu, ear infections, or roseola (a virus causing a temperature and rash).
Other conditions that can cause fevers are tonsillitis, kidney or urinary infections, or any of the common childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, chicken pox and whooping cough.
Febrile convulsions may happen between 8- 14 days after a vaccination (such as MMR). However, far more children have febrile convulsions as a result of measles itself. If your child has had febrile convulsions, you should still have them vaccinated in the same way as other children.
Around a third of children who have had one febrile convulsion will have another during another illness that causes a high temperature. About half of these will go on to have a third seizure. Very few children have more than three febrile convulsions
Hi Cheri,
My 5yr old daughter has had similar episodes. Three different times while she was sick with flu or cold she has fainted. She just falls over, her eyes roll back and it is very scary. She is petite and when she is sick or just waking up, she has lower blood sugars and causes he to just black out. She also had a very bad reaction or what looked to me like a siezure to me at the doctors office last fall. I had taken her in for the 5 shots she needed before Kindergarden and as the nurse gave her the last shot, she went into again what looked like a siezure. I was hysterical to say the least but in ended within a few minutes. Although, at the time it seemed like forever. When the doctor sat back down with us he explained that this was because she was scared and I wish I could remember exactly what he called it but again totally normal.
I know that my daughters experiences have differed slightly from what you went through last night but from what I have been told by our doctor, these are all kind of the same things. Young children react differently to illness and stress. I would defintely go with any gut feelings you have but I just thought I would let you know that if they said it was really nothing you probably don't have anything to worry about.
Never experianced anything like that but i would for sure pursue it with her pediatrition.
You might want to contact your pedatritican Dr. and tell him whats been happening.. Someitmes the Er doctors they dont kow whats the child history is and etc...Contact your child's dr and tell them...I hope she gets well sooon..
Febrile seizures look them up, my son has them when his temp elevates. It is not a pretty site at all. I was traveling in my school bus thank goodness I was empty when he went into his first seizure and boy let me tell you, you did right by calling the ambulance because you just don't know what to do at that time. The body gets all tense and shakes and you just have to ride it out. I had all the test imiginable done to find out if it was just febrile and yes thank goodness it was just that because I had them when I was young and we out grow them, so if that helps check in on febrile siezures for more info.
