Febrile seizures in children: meaning and first aid

A child may stiffen, jerk, become unresponsive, roll their eyes, or briefly lose awareness as the temperature rises. The episode can be frightening, but the seizure itself commonly stops without treatment. It is linked to fever rather than to the fever's exact cause. A child still needs assessment to identify the illness causing the temperature and to check whether the episode fits a febrile pattern. A seizure without fever should be assessed differently.

Lay the child on the floor or another safe surface, move hard or sharp objects away, protect the head, and loosen clothing around the neck. Turn the child onto the side after the jerking eases, and stay with them. Record the start and finish time. Do not hold the child down, place anything in the mouth, or offer food, drink, or medicine during the seizure. Afterward, comfort them and arrange medical advice.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, breathing is difficult, the child is injured, another seizure follows before recovery, the movements are limited to one side, or the child does not return to their usual responsiveness. Urgent assessment is also needed with a stiff neck, severe sleepiness, a concerning rash, or signs of serious illness. Never leave a child alone during an episode.

Ask what illness may be causing the fever, how to measure and manage temperature, whether this episode had features needing further tests, and what action plan to use if it happens again. Ask when the child may return to normal activities and which warning signs should prompt immediate help.