Final answer:
Febrile seizures are a common cause of seizures in young children, typically occurring due to a rapid increase in body temperature from a fever. They differ from epilepsy, which can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Febrile seizures are usually outgrown by childhood and are not common in adults.
Step-by-step explanation:
A common cause of seizures in young children that is not typically seen in adults is febrile seizures, which are convulsions brought on by a fever in infants or small children. Febrile seizures often occur between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and are usually outgrown by the time the child reaches 6 years of age. Unlike epilepsy, which is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, febrile seizures are generally brought on by a rapid increase in body temperature, often due to an infection.
These seizures don't often lead to epilepsy, and most children outgrow them without long-term effects. While children with conditions such as intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can also experience seizures, febrile seizures are specifically linked to fevers and are distinct from epilepsy caused by genetic or environmental factors. For cases of epilepsy, anticonvulsant medications are often effective in controlling seizures, and in severe cases, brain surgery might be considered.