Are febrile seizures safe in children?

A febrile seizure is a seizure occurring with a fever in a child, usually during an infection. The child may stiffen, jerk, lose awareness, roll the eyes or become sleepy afterward. A simple episode is generally short, affects the whole body and does not recur during the same illness, while other patterns need more detailed evaluation. Fever medicine can improve comfort but does not reliably prevent another seizure.

Place the child on the floor or another safe surface, turn them gently onto their side, move hard or sharp objects away, and loosen tight clothing around the neck. Watch the clock and observe the movements. Do not restrain the child, put anything in the mouth, give food or drink, or try to cool them with ice or cold water. Stay with the child until normal awareness returns.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, breathing is difficult, the child is injured, movements affect only one side, another seizure follows without recovery, or the child remains unusually unresponsive. Seek urgent assessment for a first seizure, a stiff neck, a purple rash, severe dehydration, or a child who appears seriously unwell. The cause of the fever still needs evaluation.

Ask what type of seizure the episode suggests, how to use an emergency seizure plan if one is prescribed, which fever symptoms need review, and whether follow-up with a paediatric clinician is needed.