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My child had a febrile seizure. What do I do?
A febrile seizure is a brief, harmless brain response to fever in young children. Here is what to do and when to get help.
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What it is
A febrile seizure is a response of the brain to fever. It happens in some healthy children between 6 months and 5 years of age [1]. It almost always occurs during the first day of fever [1]. Any common infection with fever, like a cold, sore throat, or stomach bug, can trigger one [1].
During a seizure, your child may suddenly lose consciousness. Their body may become stiff and start jerking, or it may go completely floppy [1]. Their mouth may look purple and be shut tight, and their eyes may look blank [1]. They may also be sick or wet themselves [6]. Most febrile seizures last 2 to 3 minutes [6]. It is rare for one to last more than 10 minutes [6]. After it ends, your child may be sleepy, irritable, or confused for up to 1 hour [6].
A febrile seizure is not the same as epilepsy [4]. It is unlikely to harm your child or cause long-term effects [3]. Your child’s future brain development will not be affected [2]. Having a febrile seizure does not mean the cause of the fever is more serious [2].
What you can do at home
If your child is having a seizure, keep them safe while you wait for medical help [5].
- Lay your child on their side, in a safe place away from objects they could hit [2].
- Protect their head with your hands or something soft [5].
- Remove any dangerous objects nearby [5].
- Do not put anything in their mouth [2][7].
- Do not move or hold your child still [7].
- Do not undress them or sponge them with cold water to lower their temperature [7].
- Time the seizure from start to finish [2][5].
- Call emergency services, preferably hands-free, without leaving your child [2].
If the seizure has stopped, place your child in the recovery position [2]. Make sure there is nothing in their mouth or throat that could affect their breathing [5]. If it has been more than 2 hours since their last fever medicine, you can give a fever reducer like paracetamol or ibuprofen [2]. If this is not the first time and your doctor prescribed a seizure medicine, give it if the seizure lasts more than 3 minutes [2].
After any febrile seizure, it is recommended that a doctor evaluates your child [2]. For a first seizure, your child will need to be checked in hospital [4]. They may need blood tests, a urine test, or a lumbar puncture [4]. If an infection is causing the fever, they may need medicine for it [4].
You cannot prevent febrile seizures [2][4]. Treat fever with the same fever reducers you would use for any child [2]. Your child can return to daycare or school once they have been without fever for at least 24 hours and can handle normal activity [2].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Call emergency services or go to the emergency department if your child [6]:
- Has a seizure for the first time
- Has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes
- Has difficulty breathing
- Has stiffness and twitching on only one side of their body
- Is more sleepy than usual for more than 1 hour after the seizure stops
- Has more than one seizure within 24 hours
Do not drive to the emergency department. Ask someone to drive you or call for an ambulance [6]. If your child is still having a seizure or is unconscious, call emergency services instead of taking them to the emergency department [6].
Also seek urgent care if your child has a first febrile seizure, a repeat seizure, seems very sleepy, confused, irritable, or has abnormal behavior, or has a severe headache and/or repeated vomiting [2].
Common questions
Will my child have brain damage? No. Febrile seizures have a good outlook. After one, your child will have the same health as before [2]. Their future brain development will not be affected [2].
Will my child get epilepsy? Febrile seizures are not epilepsy [4]. Children who have had a febrile seizure have a slightly increased chance of epilepsy later in life, but this is rare [4].
Can I stop a seizure from happening? No. You cannot prevent febrile seizures [2][4]. You can only treat the fever with the same medicines you would give any child [2].
Sources
[1] SEUP — “Convulsión febril. Información para padres”, section “¿QUÉ ES UNA CONVULSIÓN FEBRIL? ¿POR QUÉ SE PRODUCEN?”, p. 1 [2] SEUP — “Convulsión febril. Información para padres”, section “¿QUÉ PODEMOS HACER EN CASA CUANDO TIENE UNA CONVULSIÓN FEBRIL?”, p. 1, 2 [3] NHS — “Febrile seizures” (2023), section “Febrile seizures”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/ [4] NHS — “Febrile seizures” (2023), section “Treatment for febrile seizures”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/ [5] NHS — “Febrile seizures” (2023), section “What to do if your child is having a febrile seizure”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/ [6] NHS — “Febrile seizures” (2023), section “Symptoms of a febrile seizure”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/ [7] NHS — “Febrile seizures” (2023), section “Don’t”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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