Febrile seizures are full-body convulsions caused by high fevers. They affect children 6 months to 6 years old, and are most common in toddlers 12 to 18 months old. The seizures typically last for a few minutes and are accompanied by a fever above 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius).

Although they can be frightening, febrile seizures usually stop on their own and don't cause any other health problems. Having one doesn't mean that a child will have epilepsy or brain damage.

About Febrile Seizures

During a febrile seizure, a child's whole body may convulse, shake, and twitch, and he or she may moan or become unconscious. This type of seizure is usually over in a few minutes, but in rare cases can last up to 15 minutes.

Febrile seizures stop on their own, while the fever continues until it is treated. In some cases, children feel sleepy afterwards.

No one knows why febrile seizures occur, It has been theorized that the seizure is triggered by the rapidity of the rise in temperature, rather than the actual temperature reached.

Febrile seizures are not considered epilepsy, but a child who has had a febrile seizure has a slightly increased risk of developing epilepsy, especially if there is a family history.

Treating Febrile Seizures

If the child has a febrile seizure, stay calm and:

Make sure the child is in a safe place and cannot fall down or hit something hard.
Lay the child on his or her side to prevent choking.
Watch for signs of breathing difficulty, including any color change in child's face.
If the seizure lasts more than 10 minutes, or the child turns blue, it is probably a more serious type of seizure. Seek medical care immediately.
When taking the child to hospital keep the child in horizontal position to prevent choking.

It's also important to know what you should not do during a febrile seizure:

Do not try to hold or restrain the child.
Do not put anything in the child's mouth.
Do not try to give the child fever-reducing medicine.
Do not try to put the child into cool or lukewarm water to cool off.
When the seizure is over, take the child to a doctor for an evaluation. Some children who have a febrile seizure will have another in the future.

Febrile seizures can be scary to witness but remember that they're fairly common, not usually a symptom of serious illness, and in most cases don't lead to other health problems.