Most of the time when children have a seizure (also called a convulsion) it is caused by a fever. These are called "fever seizures" or "febrile seizures." They are very frightening, but they aren't as dangerous as they may appear.
Febrile Seizures
Febrile Seizures
What is a febrile seizure?
How serious are febrile seizures?
Generally, febrile seizures aren't harmful to a child. Even though seeing your child have a febrile seizure is frightening, your child will be okay. A febrile seizure doesn't cause brain damage. Also, your child can't swallow his or her tongue during a seizure (it is physically impossible for someone to swallow his or her tongue). Febrile seizures usually last just a few minutes. It's very unusual for a febrile seizure to last more than 5 minutes. Usually, a child who has had a febrile seizure does not need to be hospitalized and probably does not need X-rays or a brain wave test. Your child may only need to be seen by your family doctor so the cause of the fever can be found.
What should I do if my child has a seizure?
- Put your child on his or her side so that he or she won't choke on saliva or vomit.
- Don't put anything in his or her mouth.
- Don't restrain your child's movements during the seizure.
- The most important thing for you to do is to remain as calm as possible. Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes, so keep your eyes on a clock or watch.
- Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 10 minutes or is accompanied by a stiff neck, vomiting or breathing problems.
- Don't try to lower your child's fever by placing him or her in a cold bath, especially during a seizure.
What should I do after the seizure has stopped?
Call your doctor. He or she may want to see your child to find a cause for the fever.
Will my child have more seizures?
Most children won't have another seizure. But the risk of another febrile seizure is slightly higher if your child is younger than 18 months, if there's a family history of febrile seizures or if the fever wasn't very high when the seizure occurred.
Can these seizures be prevented with medicine?
Maybe, but many doctors believe the side effects from the medicine are worse than the child having another febrile seizure. Even if medicine is used, it may not prevent another seizure.
If my child has a febrile seizure, does this mean that he or she has epilepsy?
No. A single seizure does not mean your child has epilepsy. Even repeated febrile seizures aren't considered epilepsy, because children outgrow the risk of having a seizure caused by fever. A child who has epilepsy usually has 2 or more seizures that aren't caused by fever.
Febrile seizures don't cause epilepsy. But the chance of epilepsy developing in a child who has had several febrile seizures is slightly higher than if he or she didn't have a febrile seizure. The chance of epilepsy developing in a child who has had a febrile seizure is about 2% to 4%. There is a better than 95% chance that your child will not develop epilepsy, and there is no evidence that treating your child with medicine will prevent epilepsy.
Febrile seizures don't cause epilepsy. But the chance of epilepsy developing in a child who has had several febrile seizures is slightly higher than if he or she didn't have a febrile seizure. The chance of epilepsy developing in a child who has had a febrile seizure is about 2% to 4%. There is a better than 95% chance that your child will not develop epilepsy, and there is no evidence that treating your child with medicine will prevent epilepsy.
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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
American Academy of Family Physicians
Reviewed/Updated: 04/08
Created: 10/95
Copyright © 1995-2008 American Academy of Family Physicians
|This article provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this article applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.
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|This article provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this article applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.
For private, noncommercial use only.
Home | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About This Site | What's New |