Febrile Seizures in Children: Recognizing Signs

Febrile seizures can be scary. They are caused by a high fever, which can develop due to an infection. As a parent, you want to know all you can about recognizing the signs of a febrile seizure, and what you can do to provide first aid for your child. Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy, based in Chicago, IL, is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist who offers convenient telehealth appointments and consultations to treat a wide range of epilepsy conditions, including febrile seizures.

What You Need To Know About Febrile Seizures

A febrile seizure can be caused by your child having a fever of 100.4 or higher. During a febrile seizure, your child may completely lose consciousness and rapidly jerk their extremities. There are two types of febrile seizures, which are:

Simple febrile seizures, lasting from a few seconds to up to 15 minutes. They are typically limited to one within a 24-hour period and can be generalized to multiple parts of the body.

Complex febrile seizures, which last longer than 15 minutes. They can reoccur more than once in 24 hours and may be limited to one side of the body.

There are several reasons why a fever can cause a febrile seizure. The fever could be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

Febrile seizures are typically self-limiting and stop within a couple of minutes. If your child has a febrile seizure, it’s helpful to:

  • Place your child on his or her side on a flat surface
  • Begin timing the seizure
  • Comfort your child during the seizure
  • Keep the area free of hard or sharp objects
  • Loosen your child’s clothing
  • Avoid restraining your child
  • Avoid putting anything in your child's mouth

A febrile seizure can be serious, and you should call emergency services if the febrile seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or if your child also is experiencing vomiting, breathing difficulties, a stiff neck, and extreme fatigue.

Want To Know More About Febrile Seizures?

To discover more about the signs of febrile seizures and how to deliver first aid, talk with an expert. Call Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy, in Chicago, IL, offering telehealth services across several states. You can reach him by calling (833) 530-3034, so call today. Visit our website to see which states are currently served.

Febrile seizures can be scary. They are caused by a high fever, which can develop due to an infection. As a parent, you want to know all you can about recognizing the signs of a febrile seizure, and what you can do to provide first aid for your child. Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy, based in Chicago, IL, is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist who offers convenient telehealth appointments and consultations to treat a wide range of epilepsy conditions, including febrile seizures.

What You Need To Know About Febrile Seizures

A febrile seizure can be caused by your child having a fever of 100.4 or higher. During a febrile seizure, your child may completely lose consciousness and rapidly jerk their extremities. There are two types of febrile seizures, which are:

Simple febrile seizures, lasting from a few seconds to up to 15 minutes. They are typically limited to one within a 24-hour period and can be generalized to multiple parts of the body.

Complex febrile seizures, which last longer than 15 minutes. They can reoccur more than once in 24 hours and may be limited to one side of the body.

There are several reasons why a fever can cause a febrile seizure. The fever could be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

Febrile seizures are typically self-limiting and stop within a couple of minutes. If your child has a febrile seizure, it’s helpful to:

  • Place your child on his or her side on a flat surface
  • Begin timing the seizure
  • Comfort your child during the seizure
  • Keep the area free of hard or sharp objects
  • Loosen your child’s clothing
  • Avoid restraining your child
  • Avoid putting anything in your child's mouth

A febrile seizure can be serious, and you should call emergency services if the febrile seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or if your child also is experiencing vomiting, breathing difficulties, a stiff neck, and extreme fatigue.

Want To Know More About Febrile Seizures?

To discover more about the signs of febrile seizures and how to deliver first aid, talk with an expert. Call Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy, in Chicago, IL, offering telehealth services across several states. You can reach him by calling (833) 530-3034, so call today. Visit our website to see which states are currently served.