What to do during a febrile seizure

A febrile seizure is a seizure associated with a fever, often during an infection. The child may become unresponsive, stiffen, jerk, or briefly appear blue around the lips. The episode can be frightening, yet trying to stop the movements physically can cause injury. Your job is to prevent harm and observe what happens.

The temperature does not need to be measured during the seizure. Afterward, tell the clinician whether fever or illness was present, how long the event lasted, and whether the child recovered normally.

Place the child on the floor or a low, safe surface. Remove nearby furniture and sharp objects, cushion the head, and loosen tight clothing around the neck. Turn the child onto their side when possible, especially after the movements stop or if saliva or vomit is present. Start a timer and stay with them.

Do not restrain the child, put fingers or objects in the mouth, or give food, drink, or medicine during the seizure. Do not use a cold bath. Once the child is awake enough to swallow, offer fluids and follow advice for fever discomfort.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts five minutes, repeats without the child waking, affects breathing, occurs in water, or causes a serious injury. Seek urgent assessment for a first seizure, ongoing unusual drowsiness, a stiff neck, severe headache, breathing difficulty, persistent weakness, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. These symptoms can indicate meningitis or another serious cause.

Ask how to respond if another event occurs, whether an emergency medicine plan is needed, and which fever symptoms require review. Ask how to check and record temperature safely. If the child has poor intake or vomiting, discuss warning signs of Hypoglycaemia and dehydration.