Quick read
Key points
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Febrile seizures are convulsions that can occur in young children, usually between 6 months and 5 years old, triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature during a fever. They can look frightening — often involving jerking movements, loss of consciousness, and sometimes brief breathing changes — but most are brief and don't cause any lasting harm.
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Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
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During the seizure, gently place your child on their side and time how long it lasts
01 · Know
What is Febrile Seizures?
Febrile seizures are convulsions that can occur in young children, usually between 6 months and 5 years old, triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature during a fever. They can look frightening — often involving jerking movements, loss of consciousness, and sometimes brief breathing changes — but most are brief and don't cause any lasting harm.
Febrile seizures are relatively common in this age group and don't mean a child has epilepsy. Most children outgrow the tendency by school age, though a first seizure should always be assessed to confirm the cause and rule out anything more serious.
02 · Understand
Clinical context
A first seizure always needs medical assessment
Even though febrile seizures are usually harmless, a first seizure should always be assessed by a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and check for any underlying cause of the fever that needs treatment.
03 · Act
What to Do During and After a Seizure
- 1During the seizure, gently place your child on their side and time how long it lasts
- 2Don't restrain your child or put anything in their mouth
- 3Seek emergency care for a first seizure, or one lasting more than 5 minutes
- 4After a known febrile seizure that resolves quickly, still contact your GP for follow-up assessment
04 · Prevent & manage
Practical steps
Never Put Anything in Your Child's Mouth During a Seizure
This is a myth that can actually cause harm — the correct approach is to gently place your child on their side, remove any nearby hazards, and time the seizure, without restraining them or putting anything in their mouth.
- 1Stay calm and gently place your child on their side.This helps keep the airway clear during the seizure.
- 2Time the seizure.This information is important for medical assessment afterward.
- 3Remove any nearby hazards.Move objects away that your child could injure themselves on during the seizure.
- 4Seek medical assessment after any first seizure.This confirms the diagnosis and identifies the cause of the fever.
- 5Manage fever with appropriate care afterward.Paracetamol or ibuprofen, following package instructions, and adequate fluids support recovery from the underlying illness.
Evidence
References
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- HSE: Febrile seizures ↗
Medical information notice
Health education, not individual medical advice
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
BarnMD Bottom Line
Febrile seizures are common in young children and, while frightening to witness, usually don't cause any lasting harm.
A first seizure, or one lasting more than 5 minutes, always needs emergency assessment.