Febrile seizures (or convulsions as they are commonly known in Australia) can be brought on by the rapid spike in body temperature that happens when a child develops a high fever. The symptoms can be mild, such as eye-rolling, or slight shaking, or they can consist of full-blown seizures with the whole body cramping up in spasms. Febrile seizures can last from anywhere from a couple of seconds to a few minutes. Doctors say it is not the fever itself, but the rapid temperature change that brings on the seizure. Febrile seizures can appear quite suddenly, and might be the first sign of fever in your child. Watching your child have a febrile seizure can obviously be frightening, but experts say febrile seizures are most often harmless, so don’t panic. It is a good idea to contact your child’s health care provider if your child has had a febrile seizure. Febrile seizures are usually not cause for hospitalisation, though if the seizures go on for a long time, or if the child has a serious infection, hospitalisation might be necessary. Several of the websites listed below have advice on what to do if your child is having febrile seizures. Febrile seizures are most common in children between 6 months and 5 years.
Children’s Hospital Westmead
“Febrile Convulsions”
"A convulsion is caused by a short burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This is when the nerve cells send “mixed-up” signals to each other. These mixed-up signals may lead to a change in the child’s awareness or body movement. Sometimes people use other names for convulsions such as fits or seizures." …read the full article
Children, Youth And Women’s Health Service
“Febrile Convulsions”
"Febrile convulsions are usually short and don’t cause any lasting problems. If they last longer than 5 minutes you need to get urgent medical help. Call an ambulance or take your child to the nearest doctor or hospital with an emergency department. " …read the full article
Raising Children Network
“Convulsions”
"Febrile convulsions (seizures which occur due to fever) are relatively common, occurring in approximately 4% of children between the ages of six months and five years. The majority of these children will only ever have one fit; most will occur while the child is less than three years old. Those children who have their first febrile convulsion before the age of one year have a higher risk of having recurrent febrile convulsions." …read the full article
MyDr
“Temperatures And Febrile Convulsions In Children”
"The child will become unconscious and its body undergoes a series of jerking movements. This may last only a few seconds or up to a few minutes. The child should be laid on its side. Don’t try to restrain the body in the hope that you can stop the fit, but make sure there is plenty of space around so the child won’t be injured." …read the full article
Dr. Greene
“Can Febrile Seizures Be Prevented?”
"Some children have seizures or convulsions when they have fevers. Although febrile seizures are fairly common, many parents have never seen one until it happens to their child. [...] The seizure begins with the sudden sustained contraction of muscles on both sides of a child’s body — usually the muscles of the face, the trunk, the arms and the legs. Often a haunting, involuntary cry or moan emerges from the child, from the force of the muscle contraction. The contraction continues for seemingly endless seconds, or tens of seconds. The child will fall, if standing, and may pass urine. He may vomit. He may bite his tongue. The child will not be breathing, and may begin to turn blue. Finally, the sustained contraction is broken by repeated brief moments of relaxation — the child’s body begins to jerk rhythmically." …read the full article
