First fever seizure in a child
Fever seizures occur when a child's body temperature increases too quickly. Fever seizures can be frightening to see but they are not usually harmful to the child and do not cause long-term problems, such as brain damage, mental retardation, or learning problems.
A seizure is more likely to have been caused by a fever if the seizure occurred within 24 hours of the start of a fever. Fever seizures usually affect the whole body, not just one side. Most children have never had a fever seizure before and they also do not have other nervous system (neurologic) problems. Fever seizures are more common in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.
A rapidly rising body temperature can be caused by many illnesses, ranging from minor to serious. Most fever seizures are not life-threatening, even if the child has difficulty breathing or if his or her skin turns bluish from lack of oxygen during the seizure. Most fever seizures will not need medical treatment, but report the seizure to your child's health professional.
Most children become tired and want to go to sleep after having a seizure. If a serious illness is present, other symptoms in addition to fever and sleepiness are usually present or will develop quickly.
Call your child's health professional immediately if your child has a fever seizure with signs of a serious illness.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 24, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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