Febrile convulsion

3 in 100 children will have a febrile seizure before they are 6 years old. 

An attack can be frightening to watch, as a child becomes unconscious with stiff, jerking arms and legs. There may be frothing at the mouth and blueness around the lips.

Your child will suffer no pain or discomfort during the attack. They will be unaware of what is happening. The fit or seizure will usually only last for a few minutes and the child will often recover quickly following one. They may sometimes be sleepy for a short while afterwards.

Will it happen again?

It is possible that they may have another one when they develop a high temperature. About 3 in 10 children who have a febrile convulsion will go on to have a second seizure in a future fever. This is more likely if there is a family history of febrile convulsions.

Children do usually “grow out of them”. The risk of febrile convulsion gets much less after the age of 3 years.

What first aid can I do during a febrile convulsion?

During an attack:

• try to stay calm
• note the time the seizure starts
• lay your child on their side, keeping them out of harm’s way 
• do not try to put anything in their mouth
• wait for the convulsion to stop
• when your child has stopped fitting, remove any excess clothing to try to reduce their temperature

If your child appears to be distressed or unwell with the fever, then you can give them some paracetamol or ibuprofen. Make sure you follow the instructions on the box.

Give cool fluids to drink once your child has recovered enough to swallow.

All children should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible after a febrile convulsion to ensure they do not have a serious illness. This can be your GP if your child has come round quickly (within 30 minutes).

Very rarely, febrile convulsions can become prolonged. If the fit lasts for more than 5 minutes dial 999 and request an ambulance. This is so that your child can be brought to the Emergency Department.

The current national advice is that if your child has a temperature:

• lukewarm sponging is not recommended
• do not over or under-dress the child
• consider paracetamol or ibuprofen (not both together) as an option if the child appears distressed or unwell
• do not give paracetamol or ibuprofen just to reduce the temperature; this is now thought not to reduce the risk of febrile convulsions

Ensure that your child has access to cool drinks.

Is there any risk of my child developing epilepsy in later life?

Having a febrile seizure does not cause epilepsy to develop. Of 100 children who have a febrile convulsion, just 2 will develop epilepsy in later life. This is just slightly higher than the chance of a child developing epilepsy when they have not had a febrile seizure.

If you have any worries at home, please return to the Emergency Department. You can also contact your GP, Health Visitor or call the NHS 111 service. 

Reviewed by Dr T Shaw in October 2023, next review in October 2026.

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