What should you know about febrile convulsions signs and symptoms?

During a febrile convulsion, a child may suddenly become stiff, lose awareness, roll their eyes, or have repeated jerking movements in the arms and legs. Their face may look pale or flushed, and they may briefly stop responding. Some episodes affect the whole body; others involve one side or one area more noticeably. Afterward, the child may be sleepy, confused or irritable for a while. Fever can come from illnesses such as influenza, but the seizure pattern and recovery still need clinical assessment.

Place the child on a safe, flat surface and move nearby furniture or toys away. Protect the head with something soft if available. Do not restrain the movements and do not put anything in the child’s mouth. Time the episode and observe whether the movements are equal on both sides. When it ends, turn the child onto their side, check breathing and stay with them. Do not give food, drink or medicine until they are fully awake. Arrange medical advice after a first event.

Call emergency services if the convulsion lasts longer than five minutes, repeats before the child recovers, causes breathing difficulty, or the child remains unresponsive. Seek urgent care for one-sided weakness or movements, a stiff neck, a new non-fading rash, severe headache, repeated vomiting, or a child who is becoming more unwell. These signs can indicate a serious illness and should be assessed promptly, regardless of how common fever-related convulsions are.

Ask whether the observed movements fit a febrile convulsion, what recovery should look like, and whether the fever needs testing. Ask for instructions on timing an episode, positioning the child, and recognising the point at which emergency services should be called.