Febrile seizures
A febrile seizure is a fit caused by fever in a young child, usually between 6 months and 5 years old. It often happens on the first day of a fever, when the temperature rises quickly. It is frightening to watch, but most febrile seizures last less than 5 minutes, stop by themselves and do not cause brain damage or epilepsy. The cause of the fever must still be checked by a doctor, because it can sometimes be a serious infection such as meningitis.
Symptoms
- Sudden loss of consciousness in a child with fever
- Stiffening of the body, then jerking of the arms and legs
- Eyes rolling back
- Foaming or drooling from the mouth
- Breathing may look irregular, and the lips may look blue for a short time
- Sleepiness or confusion for up to an hour afterwards
Causes
- A fast rise in body temperature in a young child
- Common infections: colds, flu, ear infections, roseola, chest or urine infections
- Sometimes fever after a vaccination
- It runs in families
- Rarely a serious infection of the brain or its lining (meningitis)
Prevention
- Febrile seizures cannot always be prevented, even by giving fever medicine
- Keep the child comfortable with light clothing and plenty of fluids during a fever
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen for a child who is uncomfortable with fever, in the right dose
- Vaccinate on time to prevent many serious infections
- Learn first aid for seizures if your child has had one
Treatment
- Stay calm, note the time, and lay the child on their side on a soft surface
- Move hard or sharp objects away; loosen tight clothing
- Do not put anything in the mouth, do not hold the child down, and do not put the child in cold water
- After the jerking stops, keep the child on their side until fully awake
- Take the child to a health facility to find the cause of the fever
- A fit lasting more than 5 minutes needs emergency treatment
Common questions
Will my child get epilepsy?
Most children who have febrile seizures do not develop epilepsy. The risk is only slightly higher than in other children, mainly if the seizures are long, affect one side, or the child has other developmental problems.
Will it happen again?
About 1 in 3 children who have one febrile seizure will have another with a later fever, usually within the next year or two. They become rare after age 5.