Seizures caused by fever: what parents should know

The child may stiffen, jerk, roll their eyes, become briefly unresponsive or lose awareness. Sleepiness or confusion can follow. The fever may come from a viral or bacterial infection, such as a common cold, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, chickenpox, cellulitis, COVID-19 or brucellosis. A seizure with fever is not automatically caused by the fever, so clinicians consider the child’s age, examination, vaccination history, illness symptoms and recovery. Do not judge the seriousness from the temperature alone.

Lay the child on a safe surface, turn them onto their side if possible, remove nearby objects and cushion the head. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and watch their breathing. Do not hold the child down, place anything in the mouth, or give food, drink or medicine while awareness is impaired. Time the event. Once awake, comfort the child and arrange medical review to find the source of the fever.

Call emergency services if this is the first seizure, it lasts longer than expected, repeats before full recovery, affects one side, causes breathing difficulty, follows an injury, or the child does not return towards normal. Seek urgent help for a stiff neck, severe headache, a purple or unusual rash, persistent vomiting, marked drowsiness, dehydration or a child who looks seriously unwell.

Ask what infection may be causing the fever, how to handle another seizure, which medicines are suitable for comfort, and when follow-up or specialist review is needed.