Which type of seizures are triggered by fever in young children?

Febrile seizures are specifically defined as seizures that occur in young children as a direct result of fever. These seizures typically happen in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and are often associated with a rapid increase in body temperature, commonly due to infections like viral illnesses.

Febrile seizures can vary in severity—some may last only a few seconds, while others can last for several minutes. Importantly, they are usually self-limiting and do not generally lead to long-term neurological issues or an increased risk of epilepsy.

In contrast, myoclonic seizures, absence seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures are distinct types of seizures that are not specifically associated with fever. Myoclonic seizures involve brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles, absence seizures are characterized by brief lapses in consciousness, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures involve a combination of convulsions and loss of consciousness. Thus, febrile seizures stand out as the type directly related to fever in young children.