What is an important question to ask a parent of a child who had a generalized seizure without prior history?

When assessing a child who has experienced a generalized seizure for the first time, asking whether the child had a fever is particularly important. This is because fever can lead to febrile seizures, which are common in young children and often do not indicate an underlying neurological disorder. Understanding whether the seizure occurred in the context of a fever helps differentiate between febrile seizures and other more serious conditions that may need further evaluation and intervention.

A fever may suggest that the seizure is related to an infection, such as a viral illness, which could be a contributing factor. The clinical relevance of fever can guide treatment and the urgency of further medical evaluation. In contrast, while histories of brain tumors or other serious conditions like heart disease are significant in a comprehensive medical history, they are less likely to be the immediate concern in an otherwise healthy child with no prior seizure history. Asking about seizure medication is also relevant, but since the question specifies a child with no prior seizure history, questioning about current medication might not be as pertinent.