What should you know about a seizure from high temperature?

A fever can occur with viral or bacterial illness, and some children have a seizure during a rapid temperature rise. The event may involve stiffening, rhythmic jerking, staring or temporary unresponsiveness. Fever does not prove that the seizure was caused by the temperature, and a seizure can have another cause. Record the measured temperature if available, the illness symptoms, the event duration, movements, breathing and recovery. Conditions that can cause fever include Common Cold, Bronchiolitis, Croup, Chickenpox, COVID-19 and other infections; the accompanying symptoms guide assessment.

Place the person on a safe surface, remove nearby hazards and cushion the head. Turn them onto their side when possible, keep the airway visible and time the seizure. Do not hold them down, place anything in the mouth, or give food, drink or medicine while they are not fully alert. Afterward, check breathing and stay with them. Do not use cold baths or force cooling. Arrange medical review after a first fever-associated seizure, even if the person recovers quickly.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than expected, repeats without recovery, causes injury, affects breathing, occurs in water or is the first suspected seizure. Seek immediate care for a stiff neck, severe headache, unusual sleepiness, persistent confusion, a purple or non-blanching rash, breathing difficulty or a very unwell appearance. Fever with a barking cough or noisy breathing may need assessment for Croup; rapid breathing and feeding difficulty can occur with Bronchiolitis. Cellulitis, Brucellosis and Acute Bronchitis are other possible infection contexts, but only an examination can identify the cause.

Ask what caused the fever, whether testing is needed, how to measure and treat fever safely, and what seizure action plan your household should follow. Clarify when a repeat event requires an ambulance and how to record future episodes.