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Epileptogenesis and Febrile Seizures

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Atlas of Epilepsies

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Introduction and Definitions

Febrile seizures occur in children aged 2 months to 5 years and are caused by fever. Although most cases are considered to have no residual effects on the brain, there are certain cases in which individuals go on to develop epilepsy later in life. This chapter discusses factors that contribute to the process of epileptogenesis after febrile seizures. In this review, both basic science and clinical data are presented to elucidate the role of several key factors involved in the development of epilepsy after a febrile seizure.

Etiology or Methods

Febrile seizures are the most common form of seizure in the pediatric population affecting 2–5% of children in North America between the ages of 2 months and 5 years (Berg and Shinnar 1996a). These seizures are precipitated by a febrile illness that can arise from viral or bacterial infections accompanied by a fever of greater than or equal to 38.3°C. Febrile seizures are heterogeneous and can be classified into...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine,  ,  

    Dr. James G. Heida PhD

  2. Neuroscience Institute Scott & White Memorial Hospital,  ,  

    Dr. James G. Heida PhD

  3. Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901, South 1st Street, Bldg 205, Temple, Texas, 76504, USA

    Dr. James G. Heida PhD

  4. Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA

    Morris H. Scantlebury

Authors
  1. Dr. James G. Heida PhD
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  2. Morris H. Scantlebury
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James G. Heida PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsies, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    C. P. Panayiotopoulos PhD, FRCP (MD) (MD)

  2. Department of Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    C. P. Panayiotopoulos PhD, FRCP (MD) (MD)

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© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Heida, J., Scantlebury, M. (2010). Epileptogenesis and Febrile Seizures. In: Panayiotopoulos, C.P. (eds) Atlas of Epilepsies. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_45

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-127-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-128-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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