KARACHI, July 6: Surge in cases of febrile fits among kids under one year of age is noticed in hospitals across the city causing panic among parents.

High fever, usually a manifestation of viral infections, occurs among infants, almost round the year, but it occurs more frequently in May, June and July, besides December and January.

The febrile fits are of short span and do not last for more than two to three minutes duration, Dr Mobina Agboatala, a paediatrician, associated with the Civil Hospital, Karachi (CHK), told the APP on Sunday, mentioning that the condition is often wrongly confused by parents with epileptic fits or a possible manifestation of meningitis.

Stressing that these fits do not cause any mental or physical damage to the child, the paediatrician, however strongly advised parents to ensure that temperature of children below five years, must not exceed above 100 degrees.

In case of high fever the forehead of the affected child be sponged with ice cold water or the child be given cold bath if body temperature still surges.—APP