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Feb 20, 2024 · Prophylactic antiseizure medications can decrease the risk of recurrent febrile seizures, but given the benign nature of most seizures, the risks of side effects generally outweigh the benefits. This topic will review the treatment and prognosis of febrile seizures, including febrile status epilepticus.
- Overview
- Possible Causes
- Care and Treatment
- When to Call the Doctor
- Additional Common Questions
Febrile seizures are seizures that happen in children because of a fever. These seizures are usually short-lived and harmless. The overwhelming majority of children who have them will recover quickly and won’t experience any long-term effects or complications. But between 2.5% and 5% of children who have complex febrile seizures will develop epilepsy.
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OverviewPossible CausesCare and TreatmentWhen to Call the DoctorAdditional Common Questions
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What causes febrile seizures?
Fever causes febrile seizures. Febrile seizures are most common during the first day of an illness as a child's temperature rises. They're most likely with a fever of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). In some cases, children will sometimes have a seizure before developing a fever. Fevers from viral infections usually trigger febrile seizures. But the fevers may be due to any type of infection, including: Chickenpox. Coronavirus (COVID-19). Ear infections. Encephalitis. Influenza. Malaria (in regions where this condition is possible). Meningitis. Stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Strep throat. Tonsillitis. Upper respiratory infections. (Note: Some childhood vaccinations may cause fever, and if a child has a febrile seizure after vaccination, it is the fever, not the vaccine itself, that causes the seizure.)
How are febrile seizures treated?
Simple febrile seizures usually don’t need treatment. They rarely last more than a few minutes, and children recover quickly from them. Parents can give fever-reducing medications during febrile illnesses, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), but these may not prevent febrile seizures from happening. Complex febrile seizures are more likely to need treatment. For children who tend to have prolonged febrile seizures, rectal diazepam (Diastat) may be prescribed for home use. This is typically used in case of a seizure that last longer than five minutes or if the child has more than one seizure in 24 hours. Rarely, daily prescription antiseizure medications are used to prevent febrile seizures. In most cases, this is not necessary. Advertisement
What can I do at home to treat this symptom?
You shouldn’t try to treat a first-time febrile seizure at home. A first-time febrile seizure needs immediate medical care to make sure that it isn’t another kind of seizure or that it isn’t happening because of a severe infection like meningitis or encephalitis (both of which can be life-threatening). If your child has a history of febrile seizures, your healthcare provider can guide you on what to do to treat these at home. In general, you should do the following: Stay calm. Seeing your child having a seizure can be very frightening, but it’s important for you to keep as calm as possible. Track the time. Note how long your child’s seizure lasts. If the seizure lasts five minutes or more and isn’t slowing down or stopping, you should immediately call 911 (or your local emergency services number). Slowly and gently set your child down on the floor. Don’t set a child on a table or bed (they could fall), and don't try to hold them in your arms or hold them down (that increases the risk of an injury). Place them in the rescue position. Lay your child on their left side with their lower arm stretched straight out, so it's like a cushion for their head. This helps prevent choking from fluid (saliva or vomit) going into their lungs. Don’t put anything in their mouth. That could result in an injury for your child or you.
How can this symptom be prevented?
Febrile seizures happen unpredictably and are usually not preventable. Care at Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy and Seizures Treatment Find a Doctor and Specialists Make an Appointment Advertisement
When should this symptom be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?
All first-time febrile seizures need emergency medical care in a hospital emergency room or another kind of emergency setting. If your child has a history of febrile seizures, your child’s pediatrician can offer the best guidance on what you can and should do to treat these seizures. They can also tell you any signs that your child needs medical care. In general, you should call your child’s pediatrician in the following cases: If your child has a febrile seizure and they’ve had them before. If your child is slow to recover from a febrile seizure (if they take an hour or more to return to normal).
Do febrile seizures cause permanent effects?
Simple febrile seizures are typically harmless. Researchers have found no evidence of long-term harm from simple febrile seizures. There’s also little to no evidence that simple febrile seizures increase the risk of developing epilepsy. Complex febrile seizures are associated with a slightly increased chance of future seizure disorders. According to the available research, between 2.5% and 5% of children with complex febrile seizures will develop epilepsy. However, most children who have complex febrile seizures don’t have any long-term effects. A note from Cleveland Clinic Febrile seizures can be frightening, especially if your child has never had one before. However, most febrile seizures are short-lived, and children quickly recover from them without any long-term effects. If you have questions or concerns, you should talk to your child’s pediatrician. They can offer guidance and information that can help you understand the risks. They can also help set your mind at ease and show you how to do seizure first aid, so you can feel prepared if your child has a febrile seizure in the future. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/23/2022. Learn more about our editorial process.
Apr 1, 2019 · A febrile seizure is a seizure occurring in a child six months to five years of age that is accompanied by a fever (100.4°F or greater) without central nervous system infection.
Mar 3, 2023 · Treatment. Most febrile seizures stop on their own within a couple of minutes. If your child has a febrile seizure, stay calm and follow these steps: Place your child on his or her side on a soft, flat surface where he or she won't fall. Start timing the seizure. Stay close to watch and comfort your child.
Jun 1, 2008 · INTRODUCTION. Febrile seizures are seizures that occur in febrile children between the ages of 6 and 60 months who do not have an intracranial infection, metabolic disturbance, or history of afebrile seizures. Febrile seizures are subdivided into 2 categories: simple and complex.
Mar 3, 2023 · See your child's doctor as soon as possible after your child's first febrile seizure, even if it lasts only a few seconds. Call an ambulance to take your child to the emergency room if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or is accompanied by: Vomiting. A stiff neck. Breathing problems.
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related to: febrile seizure stop breathing treatmentRead More on Treatment Dosing Options for Your Patients Experiencing Focal Seizures Today. Review Full Indication, Important Safety Info & More Available Resources on the HCP Site.
Visit the Official Site for Product & Safety Information, Including Boxed WARNINGS. Talk to Your Doctor About Options & Find a Treatment Center On The Official Site.
Zero Seizures is a Possibility. Learn More About a Therapy That Can Get You There. If You Have Epilepsy And Are Living Life With Partial-Onset Seizures, We Can Help.
