20th August, 2025
Febrile Seizures in Children: Types, Causes, Signs, Symptoms & Treatment Explained
Dr. Amol Kumar Jadhav
Febrile Seizures in Children: Types, Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
When a child has a fever, their brain experiences bursts of electrical activity known as febrile seizures. They could be brought on by common childhood illnesses like chickenpox, the flu, or an ear infection.
What Are Febrile Seizures?
Febrile seizures are convulsions that can occur in young children when their body temperature rises above 100.4°F (38°C). The word “febrile” simply means “related to fever.” These seizures usually last just a few minutes and typically stop on their own, although the fever itself might linger.
In most cases, febrile seizures don’t need any treatment and don’t cause long-term health problems. Some children might feel drowsy afterward, but many return to normal quickly without any lasting issues.
What Are the Types of Febrile Seizures?
Febrile seizures are grouped into two types:
- Simple febrile seizures are the most common. These usually last less than 15 minutes and often involve brief loss of consciousness along with shaking or jerking movements. Only one seizure happens within a 24-hour period.
- Complex febrile seizures last longer—over 15 minutes—and may involve repeated or continuous movements. Sometimes, the seizure affects just one side of the body. A child might have more than one seizure in a 24-hour span.
Who Is at Risk of Febrile Seizures?
Febrile seizures usually affect children between 6 months and 5 years old, with toddlers aged 12 to 18 months being the most commonly affected group.
A child may be more likely to have a febrile seizure if:
- There’s a family history of febrile seizures.
- They’ve had one before—about one-third of children who’ve had a febrile seizure will have another, often within 1–2 years.
- They experienced their first seizure before 15 months of age.
Most children outgrow febrile seizures by age 5. It’s important to know that these seizures are not the same as epilepsy. While there’s a slightly higher chance of developing epilepsy later, most children don’t.
Signs and Symptoms to Look For
There are two kinds of febrile seizures:
- Simple febrile seizures are the most common. They generally last a few minutes but can go up to 15 minutes in rare cases. During the seizure, a child might:
- Shake or twitch throughout their body
- Roll their eyes
- Moan
- Lose consciousness
- Vomit or pass urine
- Complex febrile seizures last more than 15 minutes, may occur more than once in a day, and often affect only one part or one side of the body.
What Causes Them?
The exact cause of febrile seizures isn’t fully understood. However, they appear to be linked to
viral infections and how a child’s developing brain reacts to high fever.
How Is a Febrile Seizure Diagnosed?
To diagnose a febrile seizure, a healthcare professional will look into your child’s medical history and conduct a physical examination. This can be done either in the emergency room or at the doctor’s clinic. The provider will check your child’s temperature and go over the symptoms. If needed, they might also recommend blood or urine tests to help identify the source of the fever.
Treatment
The main goal of treatment is to address whatever is causing the fever. During a seizure, the focus is on keeping the child safe and preventing injury. Here are some important safety steps to follow:
- Don’t try to hold the child down or stop their movements.
- Stay with the child at all times.
- Gently place the child on the floor in a safe, open space, away from furniture or sharp objects.
- If the floor is hard, you can place a blanket under them for comfort.
- Move the child only if they are in immediate danger.
- Loosen any tight clothing, especially around the neck, and if you can, remove clothes from the waist up.
- If the child vomits or has a lot of saliva or mucus in their mouth, gently turn them onto their side or stomach to help keep their airway clear—especially if their tongue seems to be blocking their breathing.
- Never put anything in the child’s mouth to stop them from biting their tongue. Doing so
can actually cause more harm.
Why Choose Ankura Hospital for Febrile Seizures in Children?
Ankura Hospital is a trusted name in pediatric care, making it an ideal choice for managing febrile seizures in children. With a team of expert pediatric neurologists and child health specialists, Ankura ensures accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. The hospital’s child-friendly environment helps reduce anxiety for both children and parents during medical visits. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced monitoring systems, and round-the-clock pediatric emergency care, Ankura offers a safe and supportive setting for managing even the most complex cases.
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