Quick Action Guide
🚨 CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY IF:
- • Seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
- • Child has trouble breathing or turns blue
- • Child isn't responding normally
- • Another seizure within 24 hours
- • Child had to take anti-seizure medicine to stop it
- • Signs of meningitis (stiff neck, vomiting, light sensitivity)
📞 CALL DOCTOR AFTER SEIZURE:
- • To find the cause of the fever
- • If child is under 1 year old with other symptoms
- • If you have questions or concerns
- • For follow-up care and monitoring
🏠 DURING A SEIZURE:
- • Stay calm and place child on floor/ground
- • Remove nearby objects
- • Place child on their side to prevent choking
- • Loosen clothing around head and neck
- • Watch for breathing problems
- • Time how long the seizure lasts
❌ NEVER DO DURING SEIZURE:
- • Don't try to hold or restrain your child
- • Don't put anything in your child's mouth
- • Don't try to give fever-reducing medicine
- • Don't put child in cool water to cool off
What Are Febrile Seizures?
Definition
Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen when a young child has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). (Febrile means "feverish.") The seizures usually last for a few minutes and stop on their own. The fever may continue for some time.
Important Facts
- • Most febrile seizures stop without treatment and don't cause other health problems
- • Some kids might feel sleepy after a seizure, while others feel no lasting effects
- • Febrile seizures are not considered epilepsy (seizure disorder)
- • Kids who have a febrile seizure have only a slightly increased risk for developing epilepsy
Who Gets Febrile Seizures?
Age Range
Febrile (FEH-bryle) seizures happen in kids 6 months to 5 years old. They're most common in toddlers 12–18 months old. Most children outgrow having febrile seizures by the time they are 5 years old.
Risk Factors
- • Family history: There's a family history of febrile seizures
- • Previous seizures: They've already had one (about 1 in every 3 kids who have had one febrile seizure will have another, usually within 1–2 years of the first)
- • Early onset: They had a first febrile seizure when they were younger than 15 months old
Signs & Symptoms of Febrile Seizures
⚡ Simple Febrile Seizures (Most Common)
- • Duration: Usually over in a few minutes, but in rare cases can last up to 15 minutes
- • During seizure, child may:
- • Convulse, shake, and twitch all over
- • Roll the eyes
- • Moan
- • Become unconscious (pass out)
- • Vomit or urinate (pee) during the convulsions
⚠️ Complex Febrile Seizures
- • Duration: Last longer than 15 minutes
- • Frequency: Happen more than once in 24 hours
- • Location: Involve movement or twitching of only one part or one side of the body
- • Action needed: Require immediate medical attention
What Causes Febrile Seizures?
Unknown Cause
No one knows why febrile seizures happen. But evidence suggests that they're linked to some viruses and the way that a child's developing brain reacts to high fevers.
What to Do if Your Child Has a Febrile Seizure
If your child has a febrile seizure, stay calm and:
- 1. Gently place your child on the floor or the ground
- 2. Remove any nearby objects
- 3. Place your child on their side to prevent choking
- 4. Loosen any clothing around their head and neck
- 5. Watch for signs of breathing problems, including a bluish color in the face
- 6. Try to keep track of how long the seizure lasts
It's also important to know what you should NOT do:
- • Do not try to hold or restrain your child
- • Do not put anything in your child's mouth
- • Do not try to give your child fever-reducing medicine
- • Do not try to put your child into cool or lukewarm water to cool off
After the seizure:
When the seizure is over, call your doctor for an appointment to find the cause of the fever. The doctor will examine your child and ask you to describe the seizure. In most cases, no other treatment is needed. The doctor might order tests if your child is under 1 year old and had other symptoms, like vomiting or diarrhea.
Treatment and Management
Fever Treatment
The doctor may recommend the standard treatment for fevers, which is acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Giving these medicines around the clock is not recommended and won't prevent febrile seizures.
Anti-Seizure Medicine
The doctor might prescribe an anti-seizure medicine to give at home if your child has more than one or two febrile seizures that last more than 5 minutes.
When Should I Call 911?
Get emergency medical care if your child:
- • Has a febrile seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes
- • Has a seizure that involves only some parts of the body instead of the whole body
- • Has trouble breathing or turns blue
- • Isn't responding normally
- • Has another seizure within 24 hours
- • Had to take an anti-seizure medicine to make the seizure stop
Meningitis Warning Signs
A child who has missed getting some vaccines and has a febrile seizure could have a higher risk for meningitis. Get medical care right away if your child has any signs of meningitis:
- • A stiff neck
- • A lot of vomiting
- • Sensitivity to light
- • In babies, a bulging soft spot on the head
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do febrile seizures cause brain damage?
A: No, simple febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, learning disabilities, or epilepsy. They are generally harmless and most children who have them develop normally. However, complex febrile seizures may be associated with a slightly higher risk of developing epilepsy later in life.
Q: Will my child have more seizures?
A: About 1 in every 3 kids who have had one febrile seizure will have another, usually within 1–2 years of the first. The risk is higher if the first seizure occurred before 15 months of age, if there's a family history, or if the fever was relatively low. Most children outgrow febrile seizures by age 5.
Q: Should I give fever medicine to prevent seizures?
A: While fever-reducing medications can make your child more comfortable, they don't prevent febrile seizures. The seizure often occurs during the rapid rise in temperature, before you even know your child has a fever. Focus on comfort and monitoring rather than prevention.
Q: Are febrile seizures the same as epilepsy?
A: No, febrile seizures are not considered epilepsy (seizure disorder). Kids who have a febrile seizure have only a slightly increased risk for developing epilepsy. Most children who have febrile seizures never develop epilepsy.
Q: What should I do if my child has a seizure?
A: Stay calm, place your child on their side on the floor, remove nearby objects, and time the seizure. Don't put anything in their mouth or try to restrain them. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, call 911. After the seizure, call your doctor to find the cause of the fever.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general information about febrile seizures and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment. If your child has a seizure or you're concerned about their condition, seek medical attention promptly. Trust your parental instincts—if you notice any concerning symptoms in your child, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.