What to do during a seizure
If your child is having a febrile seizure, place them in the recovery position. Lay them on their side, on a soft surface, with their face turned to one side. This will stop them swallowing any vomit. It will keep their airway open and help to prevent injury.
See the Health A-Z topic about Accidents and first aid - recovery position for more information.
If your child is having a seizure, stay with them and make a note of when the seizure started in order to keep track of how long it lasts. If the seizure lasts for less than five minutes, phone your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
If the seizure lasts for longer than five minutes, dial 999 to ask for an ambulance to take your child to the nearest hospital. While there is probably nothing seriously wrong with your child, it is best to be sure.
Avoid putting anything in your child’s mouth while they are having a seizure. There is a slight chance that they might bite their tongue, but any damage is not usually serious and will heal within a few days. Trying to stop someone biting their tongue by placing your hand or an object in their mouth could be dangerous for you and for them.
High temperature (fever)
Paracetamol and ibuprofen have been shown to be effective in reducing a high temperature. Removing any unnecessary clothes and bedding will also help to lower your child’s temperature.
Aspirin should never be given to children under 16 years old. There is a small risk that the medication could trigger a condition called Reye’s syndrome, which can cause brain and liver damage.
The use of cold sponges or fans is not recommended for treating a high temperature. There is little evidence that they are effective, and they may cause your child discomfort. Your GP can give you additional advice about treating the underlying cause of your child’s high temperature.
Recurring febrile seizures
About one third of children will have a febrile seizure again during a subsequent infection. This often occurs within a year of the first episode.
Recurrence is more likely if:
- the first febrile seizure happened when your child was younger than 18 months old
- your child’s first seizure was a complex febrile seizure (see Febrile seizures - introduction)
- you have a family history of seizures or epilepsy
- your child attends a day nursery – this increases their risk of developing a common childhood infection
It is not recommended that your child is given a prescription of regular medicines to prevent further febrile seizures. This is because the adverse side effects associated with many medicines outweigh any risks that are associated with the seizures themselves. Regular medicine is not likely to prevent recurrence of further febrile seizures.
However, there may be exceptional circumstances in which medication to prevent recurrent febrile seizures is recommended. For example, children may need medication if they have a low threshold for having seizures during febrile illness, particularly if the seizures are prolonged.
In this case, your child may be prescribed medications such as diazepam or lorazepam to take at the start of a fever. This is to prevent seizures or, more commonly, to take if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes if this has happened before.
There is no evidence that vaccinations increase the risk of recurring febrile seizures.
