Which statement describes complex febrile seizures?

• A. Brief generalized seizures without abnormalities
• B. Longer than 15 minutes, focal, or with baseline neurologic abnormality
• C. Absence seizures
• D. Febrile status epilepticus

Answer: (B)

Complex febrile seizures are febrile seizures with features that make them atypical: they last longer, begin with focal symptoms, or occur in a child with preexisting neurologic abnormalities. The statement that describes this best lists seizures lasting longer than 15 minutes, or having focal features, or occurring in the context of a baseline neurologic abnormality. Those criteria directly capture what makes a febrile seizure “complex,” distinguishing it from the simpler, generalized, brief seizures that occur with fever in most children. Absence seizures are a different seizure type not specifically linked to fever, and febrile status epilepticus is a prolonged example of the duration criterion already included in that description.