The interictal EEG of children with a history of untreated febrile seizures is usually:

In children with a history of untreated febrile seizures, the interictal EEG is typically normal. This means that between seizures, there is usually no abnormal brain activity detected on the EEG. This is a crucial point in understanding the characteristics of EEG readings in these patients, as many may expect to see persistent abnormalities due to the seizure history.

Normal interictal EEGs are common in children who have febrile seizures, especially if they are of the simple type. This finding emphasizes that while febrile seizures can indicate a risk for further seizures or epilepsy, during the periods when the child is not experiencing a seizure, their brain function can be entirely normal. Recognizing this can help healthcare professionals in interpreting EEG results accurately and in understanding the potential outcomes for children with febrile seizures.

In contrast, excessively fast, diffusely paroxysmal, or asynchronous and slow patterns would indicate some form of underlying abnormality or ongoing seizure activity, which is generally not the case during the interictal phase in these children. Therefore, the presence of a normal EEG is significant in providing reassurance regarding the child’s neurological status outside of seizure occurrences.