High Fever and Febrile Seizures in Children: What Parents Should Know

Seeing your child develop a high fever is frightening, and witnessing a seizure can be even more alarming. Fever-related seizures, called febrile seizures, can occur in some young children when they have a fever. They are most common between about 6 months and 5 years of age. Most are brief and do not cause lasting harm, but a child having a seizure—especially for the first time—needs prompt medical assessment so the cause of the fever and seizure can be evaluated.


What Does a Febrile Seizure Look Like?



During a typical febrile seizure, a child may suddenly become unresponsive, stiffen, roll their eyes or have jerking movements of the arms and legs. The episode usually lasts only a few minutes, although it can feel much longer to a worried parent. Afterward, the child may be sleepy or confused for a short time.



What to Do During a Seizure



·         Place the child on a safe, flat surface away from hard or sharp objects and turn them onto their side if possible.



·         Note the time the seizure starts. This information is important for medical professionals.



·         Loosen tight clothing around the neck and stay with the child.



·         Do not restrain the child's movements and do not put a spoon, fingers, medicine, water or any other object into their mouth.



·         Do not try to give fever medicine while the child is actively seizing.


Know When It Is an Emergency



Call emergency medical services if the seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer, the child has trouble breathing, turns blue, is seriously injured, or does not begin recovering after the seizure stops. Urgent medical evaluation is also important if seizures repeat, affect only one side of the body, or the child appears extremely unwell. A first seizure should be medically assessed even when it stops quickly.



Caring for the Fever


Once the seizure has stopped and the child is awake enough to swallow safely, focus on comfort and hydration. Offer small amounts of fluids regularly and dress the child in light, comfortable clothing. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen may help a child feel more comfortable when used at the correct weight-based dose and when appropriate for that child. Never give aspirin to a child unless specifically directed by a doctor.



Avoid Aggressive Cooling



Very cold baths, ice packs and alcohol rubs are not recommended for treating a child's fever. They can make the child uncomfortable and may cause shivering. Fever is usually part of the body's response to an infection, so the goal is to keep the child comfortable while watching for signs of serious illness rather than trying to force the temperature back to normal immediately.



Can Fever Medicine Prevent Another Fit?



This is an important point for parents: fever-reducing medicines can improve comfort, but they do not reliably prevent febrile seizures. A seizure can sometimes happen early in an illness before parents even realize the child has a fever. If your child has previously had febrile seizures, ask their pediatrician for a clear action plan for future illnesses.


Watch the Child, Not Just the Thermometer


The temperature number is only one part of the picture. Pay attention to breathing, alertness, hydration and behaviour. Seek medical care promptly if the child is unusually difficult to wake, has a stiff neck, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, a concerning rash, signs of dehydration, severe pain, or simply looks seriously ill.



The Reassuring Part



Febrile seizures can be terrifying to witness, but most children who experience simple febrile seizures recover completely and outgrow the tendency as they get older. Knowing the basic first-aid steps before an emergency happens can make a frightening situation safer: protect the child from injury, turn them to the side, put nothing in the mouth, time the seizure and know when to call for emergency help.

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