Febrile convulsions

What are they?

They are a common medical condition – approximately 3% of children aged 6 months to 6 years may experience a convulsion when they have a fever or high temperature.

Scary but usually short-lasting, a child may:

• Lose consciousness
• Become stiff or floppy
• Jerk or twitch their limbs

The treatment

Stay calm!

• Check breathing. If okay, then place your child on his side to prevent choking and lay on the floor so they don’t fall.
• Do not hold them down or restrain their movement.
• Loosen clothing and remove any objects that may cause injury.
• Your child may be sleepy after a convulsion and will need to rest.
• See your doctor as soon as possible after the fit has ceased.

Call an ambulance if:

• it’s the first time it has happened
• your child has difficulty breathing (and be prepared to start CPR).
• the fit lasts longer than 5 minutes.
• another fit occurs soon after
• a head injury has also occurred

Will it happen again?

After a fit, your doctor will need to rule out any other causes apart from a high temperature and may need to do further tests. She may also suggest giving paracetamol next time as soon as fever occurs.

Only 3 in 10 children will have another fit with the next incidence of high fever; the chance reduces with every year after that and is rare after age 6. They are at no greater risk of developing epilepsy in the future than children who have not had a febrile convulsion.

More information: The Children's Hospital at Westmead  
 

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Always consult your doctor if you or your child is suffering any medical complaint. Any websites referred to by Australian Family contain information moderated by government and medical institutions or organisations.

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine, September 2001. Updated July 2009.