Febrile Seizures

Febrile seizures are convulsions caused by fever. They happen in 2 to 5% of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. The older your child is at his first febrile seizure, the less likely he is to have more. If a family member — sibling, parent, aunt or uncle, grandparent — has had febrile seizures, your child may be more prone to them.

How will I know if my child is having a febrile seizure?

Often the seizure is the first sign of your baby's fever — it can be scary to see, but febrile seizures aren't as dangerous as they look. Your child will have a fever higher than 38°C (100.4°F), her body will stiffen, her eyes will roll upward and her head and limbs will become jerky, and she may briefly lose consciousness. Most febrile seizures last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes and have no long-term effects.

What can parents do?

• Stay calm.
• Place your child on a flat surface on his side. Do not move him unless he is near something dangerous, and do not restrain him.
• Wipe away any vomit or saliva outside his mouth, but do not put anything between his teeth.
• After the seizure stops, keep your child on his side.
• Allow him to sleep afterward, and wake him up gradually.

When should I call the doctor?

Call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room immediately if the seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes, or if your baby is younger than 6 months. Otherwise, visit your doctor for a physical exam to rule out other problems within a few hours of any seizure, even a brief one.