NBCSN Nationally Certified School Nurse Practice Exam

Febrile seizures are primarily associated with children who are between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. This age group is particularly vulnerable because during this period, children often experience febrile illnesses, where a rapid rise in body temperature can lead to a seizure. The brain's developing systems in these young children may react to fevers differently than in older children or adults, making them more susceptible to these types of seizures. Consequently, the incidence of febrile seizures decreases significantly after the age of 5, as the child's neurological development progresses and they become less prone to the types of febrile conditions that can trigger seizures.

While children under 1 year old can experience seizures, the risk of febrile seizures is typically more prominent in those between 1 and 5 years old, leading to a greater occurrence in that specific age range. As children grow older, particularly past age 5, the risk further diminishes. Therefore, the range of under 5 years old captures the peak incidence of febrile seizures in a way that the other age groups do not, clearly establishing this age range as the most likely for the occurrence of such seizures.