What are Febrile Seizures?

There can be nothing scarier to witness than if your little one has a febrile seizure. These seizures can happen during a fever when your child’s body temperature rises rapidly. Don’t worry though, once their temperature reaches a high point and stays there, the chance of another seizure is very unlikely. 

A seizure is likely to be fever-related if the child has a fever and: 

• There is one seizure in a 24-hour period.
• The seizure lasts less than 15 minutes. 
• The seizure affects the entire body, not just one side of the body.
• The child is between 6 months and 5 years old.
• The child does not have nervous system (neurological) problems.
• The child has had febrile seizures before.

Febrile seizures can be frightening but they are not usually harmful to the child and do not cause long-term problems, such as brain damage, intellectual disabilities, or learning problems.

Febrile seizures affect 2% to 5% of children, and it is possible your child could have multiple febrile seizures. The chance of another febrile seizure varies with age, but about 30% to 50% will have another within a year of the first one. These seizures are NOT a form of epilepsy.

A child who is having a seizure often loses consciousness and shakes, moving his or her arms and legs on both sides of the body. The child’s eyes may roll back. The child may stop breathing for a few seconds and might also vomit, urinate, or pass stool. This can all be very scary to see (especially as a parent) and it is important to protect the child from injury during a seizure, but it is also important to remember that this will not cause any long term harm.

Febrile seizures usually last 1 to 3 minutes. After the seizure, the child may be sleepy. You can let your child sleep, but check him or her frequently for changes in color or breathing, or twitching arms or legs. Your child also may seem confused after the seizure, but normal behavior and activity levels should return within 60 minutes of the seizure.

To reduce the chance of a febrile seizure avoid causing quick changes in temperature by not overcooling or overheating your child.  That means do not use cold baths, ice, rubbing alcohol or underdress your child.  It also means do not overdress your child or have them in an overly hot area.

Staying calm and comforting and supporting your child is the best thing you can do for them.