Final answer:
The examination of a child with febrile convulsions focuses on identifying signs indicative of the illness's severity and cause, including temperature instability, neurological symptoms like seizures and stiff neck, and overall responsiveness. A thorough neurological assessment can quickly pinpoint CNS areas affected, guiding further tests and treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key features of the examination of a child with febrile convulsions include carefully evaluating for signs and symptoms that may indicate the severity and cause of the febrile illness.
A comprehensive examination will check for temperature instability, apnea (cessation of breathing), bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension, feeding difficulty, irritability, limpness, and neurological symptoms such as seizures, bulging fontanel (soft spot), stiff neck, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), and opisthotonos (rigid body with arched back and head thrown backward).
In a clinical scenario such as presented in the case studies, the emergency room examination might include observing the child's responsiveness, checking reflexes, and performing a quick neurological assessment to pinpoint parts of the central nervous system (CNS) that may be affected. These findings will guide further management and investigations, such as laboratory tests or imaging, to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment for the febrile convulsion.