Febrile seizures can occur in some children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old, but typically around 12-18 months old. It is important to note that febrile seizures typically occur during the initial few hours of a fever. The child might appear unusual for a few moments and then stiffens, twitch and roll his/her eyes.
The child becomes unresponsive for a brief time, breathing is disrupted and the skin appears darker than normal. After an episode, the child rapidly returns to normal. The seizures typically last less than a minute but can last for up to 15 minutes. Febrile seizures rarely occur more than once in a 24-hour period.
What should I do?
In case a child experiences a febrile seizure, you should act right away to prevent any head injuries:
- Position the child on the floor or bed away from any hard or pointed objects.
- Turn his/her head to the side so that vomit or saliva can drain from his/her mouth.
- Avoid inserting anything into the mouth.
- Get in touch with a doctor.
- In case the seizure does not settle after 5 minutes, call for emergency assistance.
Management of febrile seizures
When dealing with febrile seizures, get in touch with a doctor right away. The doctor will assess the child to determine the exact cause of the fever. It is vital to pinpoint and manage the cause of the fever. In some cases, a spinal tap is performed to ensure that the child does not have a serious infection such as meningitis particularly among those younger than 1 year old.
Generally, the doctor will not recommend treatment for a simple febrile seizure using preventive medications. Nevertheless, this must be discussed with the doctor. In case of repeated or prolonged febrile seizures, a different approach might be advised.
Medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce the fever, but these will not prevent febrile seizures.