What is a febrile convulsion?

The child may stiffen, jerk, become unresponsive or roll their eyes. Their breathing or skin colour can look different briefly, which is frightening to see. Most episodes stop on their own, but a seizure can also have causes other than fever, such as low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal or meningitis. A clinician needs the history and examination to decide whether the event was febrile and whether the infection needs treatment.

Place the child on a safe surface on their side, remove nearby objects and cushion the head. Do not restrain them, put anything in their mouth, or give food, drink or medicine during the movements. Note when it starts and ends. Once the child is awake, keep them comfortable and seek medical advice about the fever and the cause of infection.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, repeats without recovery, affects only one side, causes breathing difficulty, or the child remains unusually drowsy. Emergency assessment is also needed for a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when pressed, severe headache, persistent vomiting, or a child who looks very unwell. A first seizure should be medically assessed even if it stops quickly.

Ask what infection may have caused the fever, how to give prescribed fever relief, whether a rescue plan is needed, and what duration or behaviour change should prompt emergency help next time.