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A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child that's caused by a fever. The fever is often from an infection. Febrile seizures occur in young, healthy children who have normal development and haven't had any neurological symptoms before.
It can be frightening when your child has a febrile seizure. Fortunately, febrile seizures are usually harmless, only last a few minutes, and typically don't indicate a serious health problem.
You can help by keeping your child safe during a febrile se...
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Usually, a child having a febrile seizure shakes all over and loses consciousness. Sometimes, the child may get very stiff or twitch in just one area of the body.
A child having a febrile seizure may:
Febrile seizures are classified as simple or complex:
Febrile seizures most often occur within 24 hours of the onset of a fever and can be the first sign that a child is ill.
Usually, a higher than normal body temperature causes febrile seizures. Even a low-grade fever can trigger a febrile seizure. Infection The fevers that trigger febrile seizures are usually caused by a viral infection, and less commonly by a bacterial infection. The flu (influenza) virus and the virus that causes roseola, which often are accompanied by high fevers, appear to be most frequently associated with febrile seizures. Post-vaccination seizures The risk of febrile seizures may increase after some childhood vaccinations. Thes...
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:
Call for emergency medical attention if:
Your child's doctor may hospitalize the child for observation if:
But a hospital stay isn't usually necessary for simple febrile seizures.
Most febrile seizures occur in the first few hours of a fever, during the initial rise in body temperature. Giving your child medications Giving your child infants' or children's acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) at the beginning of a fever may make your child more comfortable, but it won't prevent a seizure.
Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu...
For informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
© Mayo Clinic
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