What happens during a febrile seizure? The child may become stiff, shake on both sides, roll the eyes or briefly lose consciousness. Simple febrile seizures usually last less than 15 minutes and occur once in 24 hours.
What parents should do Place the child on a safe surface on the side, protect the head, loosen tight clothing and remove nearby objects. Time the seizure. Do not restrain the child, put anything in the mouth, give food or medicine during the seizure, or try to cool the child with cold water.
When to call emergency services Call for emergency help if the seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer, affects only one side, repeats, causes breathing difficulty, follows a serious injury, occurs in a child under 6 months, or the child does not recover as expected.
Medical assessment A first febrile seizure should be medically assessed to identify the cause of fever and exclude other conditions. Testing depends on the child’s age, examination and seizure features.
Future risk Some children have another febrile seizure, but most do not develop epilepsy. Fever medicine may improve comfort but does not reliably prevent another seizure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a febrile seizure damage the brain?
Simple brief febrile seizures generally do not cause brain damage.
Should anything be placed in the mouth?
No. This can cause injury or choking.
Does reducing fever prevent seizures?
Fever medicine improves comfort but does not reliably prevent recurrence.
Will the child develop epilepsy?
Most children with simple febrile seizures do not develop epilepsy.
This information is for education only and does not replace medical assessment or treatment by a qualified physician.