Febrile Convulsions: What Parents Need to Know

A febrile convulsion is a seizure triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature, usually in children between six months and six years. They affect a meaningful proportion of young children, they are frightening to witness, and in the great majority of cases the child recovers completely with no lasting effect.

What it looks like

The child usually becomes stiff, may lose consciousness, and their arms and legs twitch or jerk. Their eyes may roll back, they may go pale or blue around the lips, and they may wet themselves. Most episodes last under two or three minutes, although it will feel considerably longer while you are watching it.

What to do

• Stay with the child and note the time the seizure started
• Move furniture and hard objects out of the way and place something soft under the head
• Do not restrain them or try to stop the movements
• Do not put anything in their mouth, including your fingers, medication or a spoon. A child cannot swallow their tongue, and objects in the mouth cause broken teeth and bitten fingers
• Once the jerking stops, roll them onto their side in the recovery position and check that they are breathing normally
• Stay with them while they recover, because drowsiness and confusion afterwards are normal and can last a while

When to call 000

Call an ambulance if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, if a second seizure follows shortly after the first, if the child does not wake up properly afterwards, if they have difficulty breathing or stay blue, if they were injured during the episode, or if this is their first ever seizure. If you are not sure, call. Ambulance call takers would far rather advise on a child who turns out to be fine.

Afterwards

Every first febrile convulsion should be assessed by a doctor to identify the cause of the fever. Cooling measures such as cold baths and ice are not recommended, and there is no strong evidence that giving paracetamol prevents a further convulsion, although it may make an unwell child more comfortable. Children who have had one febrile convulsion have a somewhat higher chance of another, so it is worth making sure that anyone who cares for your child knows what to do.

Learn it before you need it

Watching a seizure is far less frightening when you know that lying the child on their side and timing the episode is genuinely the correct response. Our Childcare First Aid course covers febrile convulsions, infant CPR, choking and paediatric asthma and anaphylaxis. Find a class near you.