Prevention
Although it's impossible to protect your child from every illness, try to keep your child away from sick playmates. Fever-producing contagious viruses and bacterial infections travel easily from child to child.

Your know your child better than anyone else does. If your child runs a fever when overtired or overexcited, intervene and encourage a rest period to allow his body to slow down and recuperate.

If your child suffers a seizure as a result of high fever, putting him on an anticonvulsant medication, such as phenobarbital, may be recommended to prevent a recurrence. You should be aware that the usefulness of these drugs in preventing febrile seizures is a subject of ongoing controversy. Anticonvulsants can also cause grogginess and may be implicated in the development of learning deficits. These drugs should therefore be used with great caution, if at all. There is some evidence that a low dose of the tranquilizer diazepam (Valium) can help prevent febrile seizures in some children. According to one study, it is more effective than phenobarbital, and it is a milder drug. It can still cause side effects, however. Some experts believe that taking ordinary measures to reduce fever, when necessary, is at least as effective at preventing febrile seizures as giving a child more powerful drugs is. Be certain to discuss your options thoroughly with your doctor before starting your child on any such type of drug treatment. Don't hesitate to ask questions and voice your concerns.

From Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand, N.D., L.Ac., Robert Rountree, MD, Rachel Walton, RN, ©1994. Published by Avery Publishing, New York. For personal use only; neither the digital nor printed copy may be copied or sold. Reproduced by permission.