Febrile seizures

A febrile seizure can happen when a child has a high temperature (fever).

Your child may:

• become stiff and twitch, shake, or have jerking movements
• become unconscious
• not respond or look at you when you talk to them
• be sick or pee (wet themselves)
• be sleepy, irritable or confused for up to 1 hour afterwards

Febrile seizures usually last for 2 to 3 minutes. It's rare for them to last more than 10 minutes.

They usually affect children between 6 months and 6 years old.

If your child is having a febrile seizure, it's important to keep them safe while you wait for medical help.

• check the time the seizure starts and ends

• protect their head with your hands or something soft

• remove any dangerous objects that are nearby

• after the seizure ends, put your child in the recovery position and make sure there is nothing in their mouth or throat that might affect their breathing

• do not move your child or try to hold them in place

• do not put anything in your child's mouth

• do not try to lower your child's temperature by undressing them or sponging them with cold water

Most febrile seizures do not need treatment. But your child will need to be checked in hospital after having a febrile seizure for the first time. They may also need to stay in hospital for a short time.

Your child may need some tests, including:

• blood tests
• pee (urine) test
• a lumbar puncture – where a sample of fluid is taken from the spine and checked for bacteria or viruses

If an infection is causing your child's high temperature, they may need medicine to treat it.

Treatment for recurrent febrile seizures

Very rarely, a child may keep having febrile seizures.

If this happens, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to give to your child while they're having a seizure. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to use it.

You cannot prevent febrile seizures. They can sometimes happen when your child has an infection and a high temperature.

Symptoms of a febrile seizure include shaking, twitching and unconsciousness. They can happen when a child has a high temperature.

If your child is having a febrile seizure, protect them from injury while you wait for help. When the seizure ends, put them in the recovery position.

Most febrile seizures do not need treatment, but your child will need to be checked at hospital after having a febrile seizure for the first time.