Definition:

Febrile seizures (FS), or febrile convulsions (FEB), are acute symptomatic seizures that occur in response to fever and represent the most common form of childhood seizures. Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFSP) is a familial epilepsy syndrome with a spectrum of phenotypes including FS. Severe epilepsy phenotypes such as Dravet syndrome (SMEI) have also been described within GEFS+ families. A significant genetic component exists for susceptibility to FS and GEFS+. Extensive genetic studies have shown that at least ten loci are responsible for FS. Furthermore, mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel subunit genes (SCN1A, SCN2A and SCN1B) and the GABA(A) receptor subunit genes (GABRG2 and GABRD) have been identified in GEFS+.