Febrile Seizure In Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is a febrile seizure?

• A febrile seizure or convulsion is caused by a higher than normal body temperature (fever). During a seizure, the electrical activity in the brain is not normal. The brain seems to act as if it is having an electrical storm during the seizure. Febrile seizures are the most common kind of seizure and are usually not harmful. Seizures are frightening to see and to have. A seizure usually does not cause brain damage and may not be as serious as it looks. A febrile seizure may last 1 to 10 minutes.
  
  
• Children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years are more likely to have a febrile seizure. Some children who have had a febrile seizure may have another seizure with a high fever. The risk of having another febrile seizure decreases after your child is 3 years old.

What are the causes of a febrile seizure? Your child is more likely to have a febrile seizure if his temperature is higher than 101.8 degrees F (38.8 degrees C). Febrile seizures are more likely to happen if a child's temperature has risen quickly. The fever is usually caused by an infection, such as a cold or the flu.

What are the signs and symptoms of a febrile seizure? You may see one or more of the following during your child's febrile seizure:

• Eyes rolling back.
  
  
• Jerking or twitching of the arms, legs, or face.
  
  
• Stiff body.
  
  
• Cannot talk, and may not know who you are.
  
  
• Urination or having a bowel movement without knowing it.
  
  
• Vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Fussiness, confusion, or sleepiness after the seizure.

How is a febrile seizure treated? You may want to give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat your child's fever after the seizure. Do not give your child aspirin if he is less than 18 years old. Call your child's caregiver. Your child may need to go into the hospital for tests and treatment.

What should I do if my child has another seizure?

• Keep calm and stay with your child.
  
  
• Lay your child on his side. Your child's head should be the same level or slightly lower than his body. You can also hold your child on his side with his head down slightly so he will not choke if he vomits.
  
  
• Loosen tight clothes on your child.
  
  
• Do not try to hold your child's tongue or try to put anything into his mouth.
  
  
• Note the time when the seizure begins and ends, and write it down.
  
  
• Do not try to stop the seizure.
  
  
• Do not try to keep your child from moving around during the seizure. Protect him from injury until the seizure is done. Move unsafe things away from your child so he will not get hurt.
  
  
• Do not slap your child during or after the seizure.
  
  
• Stay with your child until the seizure is done.
  
  
• Call your caregiver after the seizure. You may need to bring your child to the hospital for tests and treatment.
  
  
• Call 911 or O (for operator) if your child stops breathing, if his lips are a blue color, or if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.

Does my child need to take medicine to prevent seizures? Your child may need to take medicine to prevent more seizures from happening. Talk to your child's caregivers.

What should I do if my child has a fever? It is very important to keep your child's temperature low. Do the following if your child's body feels hot:

• Take his temperature using a thermometer. Certain thermometers work better for children of certain ages. Ask your caregiver for information about how to take your child's temperature.
  
  
• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen are over-the-counter medicines that may help your child's pain and fever. Ask your child's caregiver to tell you the right amount of medicine to give to your child, and how often to give it. Do not give your child aspirin.
  
  
• Remove most of your child's clothes to keep him cool. Do not take off his diaper.
  
  
• Use one light blanket to cover your child. His temperature may rise if you wrap him with many blankets.
  
  
• Decrease the room temperature.
  
  
• Your child needs to drink liquids to prevent dehydration. Good liquids to drink are water, fruit juice, popsicles, jello, or ice chips. Ask caregivers how much liquid your child needs to drink when he has a fever. This amount is based on your child's age and weight.
  
  
• Do not put rubbing alcohol on your child's body to decrease his temperature. Do not give your child cold baths or put ice on him if he has a fever.
  
  
• Place a lukewarm washcloth on your child's forehead, armpits, or thighs. Doing this may help decrease his temperature.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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