Which statement is not a characteristic of a simple febrile seizure?

Which statement is not a characteristic of a simple febrile seizure?

• A. Generalized, tonic-clonic seizure lasting less than 15 minutes.
• B. Occurs in a patient with no prior neurologic disease.
• C. Occurs with fever.
• D. Occurs in a patient with prior neurologic disease.

Answer: (D)

Simple febrile seizures are benign events that occur in young children during a fever and have a few defining features. They are generalized tonic-clonic seizures, brief in duration (usually under 15 minutes), and they typically happen once during a fever in a child with no prior neurologic disease. Between episodes the child is neurologically normal, and there are no focal neurologic signs. So, the statement that describes the seizure occurring in a patient with prior neurologic disease is not characteristic of a simple febrile seizure. That scenario would point more toward a complex febrile seizure or another underlying neurologic issue, which requires closer evaluation.

Simple febrile seizures are benign events that occur in young children during a fever and have a few defining features. They are generalized tonic-clonic seizures, brief in duration (usually under 15 minutes), and they typically happen once during a fever in a child with no prior neurologic disease. Between episodes the child is neurologically normal, and there are no focal neurologic signs.

So, the statement that describes the seizure occurring in a patient with prior neurologic disease is not characteristic of a simple febrile seizure. That scenario would point more toward a complex febrile seizure or another underlying neurologic issue, which requires closer evaluation.