Click Here to Register for our Patient Portal

Febrile Seizures

What are febrile seizures?

Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain which can cause unusual movements and even brief loss of consciousness. “Febrile" means that the seizure is caused by a fever. There is debate as to whether they are caused by the height of the fever or how quickly the fever rises. Febrile seizures are not uncommon; they occur in up to 5% of children ages 6 months to 5 years old and they often run in families. Despite how scary these are for a parent to witness; they are actually harmless

What are the symptoms of a febrile seizure?

During a febrile seizure, the child usually “looks strange” for a few moments and then has jerking movements of the arms, legs, or face. He/she may pass out or may just be unresponsive for a brief period of time. Most febrile seizures last less than 5 minutes, typically less than 1 minute (though if you are the parent, it may feel like forever!). Although not as common, some febrile seizures last more than 15 minutes. When the seizure is over, the child might be confused or sleepy for a brief time but then should quicky return to normal. 

 How can I help my child during a seizure?

 How are febrile seizures treated?

If a febrile seizure stops on its own, it does not require a medication other than a fever reducer to help with the fever. If a febrile seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, a doctor might need to use anti-seizure medicines to stop it. Additional treatments recommended could include, a fever reducer (acetaminophen or ibuprofen), medication to treat the infection that is causing the fever (if the fever is caused by a bacterial infection), and fluids to treat dehydration (if the infection is causing vomiting or diarrhea).

Will my child have more febrile seizures?

It's possible. Children who have 1 febrile seizure have a higher chance of having another. Talk with your provider about how to treat any fevers that your child gets in the future. If febrile seizures reoccur, your provider will likely recommend seeing a neurologist. Because additional knowledge allows you to the ability to prepare, which may  alleviate some very normal parental anxiety, this chart helps determine the likelihood of seizure recurrence.

Does a febrile seizure cause brain damage?

No. Thankfully, a febrile seizure does not cause brain damage! It also does not mean that your child will have a life-long seizure condition. If we you can only remember one thing from this handout, this is it: despite how scary these are for a parent to witness, they are actually harmless and your child is going to be okay!

When to call:

We are here for you anytime if you have other questions or concerns!

 

 

Author
PAA Advance Practice Providers Our PAA APP's include: Amber Mercer, Annie Croft, Bridget Shen, Brooke Gonzalez, Caitlin Whiteman, Courtney Dudley, Emily Woodard, Emma McCarty, Erin Moore, Keena Chung, Lauren Karnesky, and Pam Dietrich

You Might Also Enjoy...

Constipation

Constipation is so common in children, most commonly affecting toddlers, but not uncommon in any child below elementary school age. Read more to understand what’s normal, symptoms that are concerning, at home treatments, and when to call our office.

Seasonal Allergies and Treatment

If you've lived in Austin for long, you've likely experienced some symptoms of seasonal allergies. These symptoms can be miserable! Read more to learn how to better manage these symptoms.

The dreaded stomach virus

This spring it seemed that everyone in Austin had an awful stomach virus! Viruses causing vomiting and diarrhea are unfortunately very common in children! In this blog post, My Friend The Pediatrician offers tons of useful information about this illness.

Car Seats: From turning around to moving to the front seat

In honor of Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week we wanted to review the AAP recommendations for car seat safety which are even more stringent than Texas state law. Because child safety is our top priority, we follow their recommendations.

Infant feeding support: fed is best!

Infant feeding is rarely the perfect picture we imagine. While this can be true, it can be more challenging than we anticipate. Feeding your baby will be a journey with highs and lows, but having support along the way is crucial. We are here to help!