The evaluation of a febrile seizure begins with a medical history and physical examination.

Physical findings in children with febrile seizures may include:

• Fever
• Ear infection
• Tonsillitis

A child with a febrile seizure may not require laboratory testing. Testing may be performed to exclude other conditions that could cause seizures.

Tests that may be used to evaluate a febrile seizure include:

• Complete blood count
• Kidney profile
• Blood glucose
• Serum electrolytes
• Urinalysis
• Blood cultures
• Urine cultures
• Chest x-ray
• Lumbar puncture
• CT scanning of the brain
• EEG
• MRI scan of the brain

For more information:

• Epilepsy evaluation
• Petit-mal seizures evaluation
• Tonic clonic seizures evaluation
• Temporal lobe epilepsy evaluation