A febrile seizure is a fit or convulsion caused by a sudden change in your child's body temperature, and is usually associated with a fever (see our fact sheet Fever in children).

Febrile seizures may be alarming and upsetting to witness, but they are not harmful to your child. Even very long seizures lasting an hour or more almost never cause harm. Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, and there is no increased risk of epilepsy in children who have had simple febrile seizures.

Most children with fever suffer only minor discomfort; however, one child in 30 will have a febrile seizure as a result of fever. Febrile seizures most commonly happen between the ages of six months and six years. Usually, children who have a febrile seizure will only ever have just one.

Treating a child’s fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen will not prevent a febrile seizure.

Signs and symptoms of febrile seizures

During a febrile seizure:

• your child will usually lose consciousness
• their muscles may stiffen or jerk
• your child may go red or blue in the face.

The seizure may last for several minutes. When the movements stop, your child will regain consciousness, but they will probably remain sleepy or irritated afterwards.

Usually, a febrile seizure happens if your child's temperature goes up suddenly. Sometimes, a seizure occurs before parents actually realise their child has a fever. 

What to do during a seizure

There is nothing you can do to make the seizure stop.

• The most important thing is to stay calm – don't panic.
• Place your child on a soft surface, lying on their side or back.
• Try to watch exactly what happens, so that you can describe it to the doctor later. It can be useful if you are able to record video footage of the seizure to show the doctor.
• Time how long the seizure lasts, if possible.
• Do not restrain your child.
• Do not put anything in their mouth, including your fingers. Your child will not choke or swallow their tongue.
• Do not put a child who is having a seizure in the bath to lower their temperature.

When to see a doctor

If your child’s febrile seizure lasts less than five minutes, make an appointment to see your GP as soon as possible to find out the cause of the fever that caused the seizure.

If the seizure was less than five minutes long and your child was very unwell before the seizure, take them to see your GP or visit to your nearest hospital emergency department immediately. It may be OK to take the child in your own car, but only do this if there are two adults –  one to drive and one to look after the child. Drive very carefully. A few minutes longer will not make any important difference.

Call an ambulance immediately if:

• it is your child's first seizure
• the seizure lasts more than five minutes
• your child does not wake up when the seizure stops
• your child looks very sick when the seizure stops.

Occasionally, children who have had a long seizure need to be watched in hospital for a while afterwards. This is usually to work out the cause of the fever and watch the course of your child's illness.

Care at home

In most cases, you can look after your child at home after a doctor has seen them for a febrile seizure.

• Your child may be a little cranky for a day or so, but this will pass.
• Resume your usual routines.
• Put your child to sleep at the usual time, in his or her own bed. Don't worry about whether you will hear a seizure; a bed or cot is a safe place for a seizure.

While most children will only ever have one febrile seizure, some children will have more than one seizure, usually during illnesses that cause a fever. Most children who have febrile seizures do not have any long-term health problems. They will normally grow out of them by the age of six. 

If your child has repeated long seizures, it may be helpful to visit a general paediatrician (specialist children's doctor). Discuss this with your GP or hospital emergency department.

Fever care

A fever is the body's natural response to infection, and it is not always necessary to reduce a fever. Treating your child’s fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen will not prevent a febrile seizure. However, if the fever is making your child miserable, you can help them to feel more comfortable by following the advice in our fact sheet Fever in children.

Key points to remember

• One in 30 children have a febrile seizure at one time or another, usually between the ages of six months and six years.
• Nothing can be done to prevent a febrile seizure from occurring.
• During a seizure, remain calm and try not to panic. Do not put your child in a bath, restrain them, or put anything in their mouth.
• Febrile seizures are not harmful to your child, and will not cause brain damage.
• If the seizure lasts more than five minutes call an ambulance.
• If the seizure lasts less than five minutes and your child was very unwell before the seizure, take them to the GP or hospital emergency department as soon as possible. Otherwise, make an appointment to see your GP.

For more information

• Kids Health Info fact sheet: Fever in children
• Kids Health Info fact sheet: Seizures - safety issues and how to help
• See your GP or local hospital emergency department.

Making sense of seizures

Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital General Medicine, Emergency and Neurology departments, and Centre for Community Child Health. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

Reviewed August 2019.

This information is awaiting routine review. Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.

Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.