When a young child is sick with a fever, parents are naturally worried. And when their child's arms and legs begin to shake due to a febrile seizure it can be downright terrifying.
Febrile seizuresWhen a young child is sick with a fever, parents are naturally worried. And when their child's arms and legs begin to shake due to a febrile seizure it can be downright terrifying.But febrile seizures are not epilepsy and are usually not harmful to your child.CausesFebrile seizures are uncontrollable body movements known as convulsions. Some children are more likely to have febrile seizures than others.They are usually triggered by fever.Febrile seizures are a common childhood disorder.They usually happen in children between 6 months and 5 years of age. They tend to run in families.Children who have their first seizure when younger than age one have a 50% chance of having another febrile seizure. The chances of a child older than age one having a second febrile seizure are about 30%.Anytime your child had a seizure, he or she should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. While febrile seizures are mostly harmless, the combination of a fever and a seizure may be a sign of another condition that needs medical attention.SymptomsFebrile seizures almost always happen to the entire body. The muscles become rigid. There is severe shaking of the child's body, arms, and legs.Parents and caregivers should take steps to protect the child from injury. Move your child away from any sharp objects. Place him or her on a bed or on the floor.Turn your child's head to the side to prevent choking on saliva or vomit. Do not put anything in your child's mouth. Your child will not swallow his or her tongue.Call your child's healthcare provider right away. Call 9-1-1 if the seizure does not stop after 5 minutes. Call 9-1-1 if your child has a stiff neck, vomiting, or problems breathing.Most seizures stop on their own shortly after they begin. Afterward, a child may appear limp or sleepy.TreatmentOnce a febrile seizure is over, take your child to see your child's healthcare provider. He or she will want to check for other symptoms to make sure the seizure wasn't caused by another problem.Check your child's temperature often during an illness. Treat fevers right away with over-the-counter infant or child fever medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Use these medicines as directed by your child's healthcare provider.Do not try to give medicine to a child during a seizure.When your child has a fever, make sure he or she drinks plenty of fluids such as water, oral electrolytes solutions that are commercially prepared, popsicles, or diluted fruit juice. If your child cannot keep medicine down due to vomiting, call your child's healthcare provider.To cool your child's body and help bring the fever down, your child's healthcare provider may recommend a sponge bath in one to two inches of tepid water, which is 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 29.4 to 32.2 degrees Celsius.If you do not have a thermometer, test the water using your wrist or the back of your hand. The water should feel slightly warm.Don't use cold water for a sponge bath. It may cause your child to shiver. Shivering makes a fever worse and can cause your child's temperature to rise.When to call your healthcare providerCall your healthcare provider if your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, 38 degrees Celsius or higher or if your child has a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius or higher no matter how old he or she is.Also call if your child has a seizure of any kind, is too sick to keep fluids down, has a fever that doesn't go down with medicines, or shows signs of dehydration like a dry mouth or fewer wet diapers.What we have learnedFebrile seizures mean a child has an unusual or severe illness. True or false?The answer is false. Febrile seizures usually happen during a normal childhood illness. However, all seizures should be checked out by your child's healthcare provider.Febrile seizures tend to run in families. True or false?The answer is true. If you or another child in the family has a history of febrile seizures, your baby has a higher chance of having one.
Online Medical Reviewer: Adler, Liora C, MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Turley, Raymond Kent, BSN, MSN, RN
Date Last Reviewed: 03/01/2020
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