A common cause of seizures in pediatric patients is

• A. Dehydration
• B. Fever
• C. Anxiety
• D. Sleep deprivation

Answer: (B)

Fever triggers febrile seizures in young children because the immature brain is especially sensitive to temperature changes. When a child, typically between about 6 months and 5 years old, develops a swift rise in body temperature, abnormal electrical activity can briefly spark a generalized seizure. These febrile seizures are usually short, benign, and don’t by themselves indicate epilepsy. While dehydration with electrolyte disturbances can cause seizures and sleep deprivation or anxiety can lower seizure thresholds in some people, fever remains the most common and characteristic trigger in pediatric presentations.