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It is very frightening and distressing to see your child having a seizure. You may even have thought your child was dead or dying. Many parents think this when they first see a febrile convulsion.
We have produced this information resource so that you may know some facts about febrile convulsions.
It is an attack brought on by fever in a child usually between 6 months and 5 years of age.
A convulsion (also called a ‘fit’ or a ‘seizure’) is an attack in which the person becomes unconscious and usually stiff with jerking of the arms and legs. It is caused by a storm of electrical activity in the brain.
They are common — approximately 1 in 30 children will have a febrile convulsion by the age of 5 years.
They are usually harmless and almost all children make a complete recovery.
Most febrile convulsions are short-lived but if it is lasting longer than 5 minutes call 999 or bring your child to the nearest Emergency Department.
If the convulsion stops within 5 minutes you don’t need to come to hospital unless:
No. The word epilepsy is applied to fits without fever, usually in older children or adults.
Febrile convulsions rarely lead to epilepsy. 99 out of 100 children who have had a febrile convulsion never have a convulsion after they reach school age and never have fits without fever.
Almost never. In a study of nearly 2000 American children who were examined carefully for evidence of permanent brain damage following febrile convulsions, no brain damage was found. It is thought that, very rarely, a child who has a long febrile convulsion, lasting for 30 mins or more, may suffer permanent damage from it.
No. Children are unconscious and unaware of what is happening. The convulsion is more disturbing to you than your child.
You can:
Seek medical attention if they do not improve.
Call 999 if they develop a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed on it, you can not rouse them, or you are worried they are getting worse.
For more information on febrile convulsions here are some other resources you may find useful:
Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.
Resource number: ED2
Resource Type: Article
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