What to do after a febrile seizure

Place the child on their side on a safe surface, loosen tight clothing and stay nearby. Do not restrain them, put anything in their mouth or give food, drink or medicine until they are fully awake and able to swallow.

A febrile seizure is triggered by fever in a young child and is not the same as epilepsy. Sleepiness, irritability or brief confusion can follow, but the child should gradually become more responsive and return toward their usual behaviour.

The fever still needs a cause. Viral infections are frequent explanations, while examination may reveal an ear, throat, chest, urine or other infection. A clinician assesses the seizure pattern together with the illness rather than using fever alone to identify the cause.

Record when the seizure started and stopped, which body parts moved, whether one side was affected, eye position, breathing colour and how recovery progressed. This description is useful because clinicians rarely witness the event.

Once the child is alert, offer frequent fluids and keep clothing light and comfortable. Fever medicine may ease discomfort when given according to the child's age, weight, label and prior medical advice, but it does not reliably prevent another febrile seizure. Check on the child during sleep and follow the clinician's plan for the underlying illness.

Call emergency services if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes, another seizure begins before recovery, breathing is difficult, the child turns blue or grey, movements affect only one side, or the child remains unusually hard to wake. The first seizure also requires prompt medical assessment.

Seek urgent care for a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when pressed, persistent vomiting, severe dehydration, a bulging soft spot in a baby, marked weakness or behaviour that continues to concern you. These features can signal an illness needing rapid treatment.

Ask what caused the fever, whether any tests or follow-up are needed, how to dose comfort medicine, what to do if another seizure occurs and whether carers should receive a written seizure plan.