What should you know about fits due to fever?

The child may become stiff, jerk, lose awareness, or stare briefly while fever is present. The fever may come from an infection such as a respiratory illness, chickenpox, or another cause. A fever-related fit is not the same as epilepsy, but a clinician should assess the child, especially after a first episode.

Place the child on a safe surface, remove nearby objects, protect the head, and note when the movements begin and end. Turn the child onto their side once possible. Do not hold them down, put anything in their mouth, or give food, drink, or medicine while they are not fully awake. Remove excess clothing and offer fluids only when alert. Possible infection clues include [Croup](/conditions/croup/), [Bronchiolitis](/conditions/bronchiolitis/), or [Chickenpox](/conditions/chickenpox/).

Call emergency services if the fit continues, repeats before recovery, affects breathing, causes injury, or is the child’s first known seizure. Seek urgent assessment for a stiff neck, severe headache, breathing difficulty, purple or non-blanching rash, unusual sleepiness, or a child who remains difficult to wake. The infection may be [COVID-19](/conditions/covid-19/) or another illness, so do not rely on the fever alone to judge severity.

Ask what may have caused the fever, how to manage fluids and discomfort, whether follow-up is needed, and which symptoms should prompt another emergency call.