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Kids Health Info

Febrile seizures

  • Key points

    • A febrile seizure is a type of seizure caused by a sudden increase in body temperature. It is sometimes called a febrile convulsion.
    • Febrile seizures are most common between the ages of six months and six years.
    • There is no way to prevent febrile seizures.
    • Febrile seizures rarely cause any long-term health effects.
    • During a seizure, remain calm and try not to panic. Do not restrain your child, put anything in their mouth or place them in a bath to lower their temperature.
    • If the seizure lasts less than five minutes and your child was very unwell before the seizure, take them to the hospital.
    • If your child’s seizure lasts more than five minutes, it is their first seizure, or they do not wake up after it stops, call an ambulance (000) immediately.

    What is a seizure?

    Seizures are sudden and short-term changes in brain activity. They commonly impact a person’s movements, behaviours and awareness. Seizures are sometimes called fits or convulsions.

    What is a febrile seizure?

    A febrile seizure is a type of seizure caused by a sudden increase in body temperature. Sometimes, they are the first sign of a fever (temperature of 38°C or more).

    Febrile seizures are most common between the ages of six months and six years.

    Although it can be upsetting to watch a child have a febrile seizure, they rarely cause any long-term health effects. Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage or increase the risk of children developing epilepsy.

    Signs and symptoms of febrile seizures

    During a febrile seizure, your child will usually lose consciousness. They may also:

    • become stiff or floppy
    • make jerking or twitching movements
    • go red or blue in the face
    • roll their eyes back
    • froth at the mouth
    • make gurgling noises when they breathe.

    Most febrile seizures last for one minute or two at most. When the movements stop, your child will likely be sleepy or irritated for up to an hour before slowly returning to normal.

    What to do during a febrile seizure

    There is nothing you can do to stop a febrile seizure. The best thing you can do to protect your child is to stay calm and try not to panic.

    Here is what to do during a febrile seizure:

    • Place your child on a soft, low surface, lying on their side. Make sure they cannot fall or injure themselves with anything nearby.
    • Try to watch exactly what happens so that you can describe it to a doctor later.
      • You may want to record a video of the seizure to show the doctor.
    • Time how long the seizure lasts, if possible.
    • Keep your child on their side until they are awake.

    Do not:

    • Restrain your child or put anything in their mouth, including your fingers.
      • Your child will not choke or swallow their tongue.
    • Give your child any medicines until they are conscious.
    • Put your child in the bath to lower their temperature during a seizure.

    If your child’s seizure lasts for five minutes, call an ambulance (000) immediately. Long seizures may need medicine to stop them, which paramedics carry. You should also call an ambulance if it is their first seizure or they do not wake up after it stops.

    What to do after a febrile seizure

    Your child should slowly improve in the 30 to 60 minutes after a febrile seizure. When they are back to normal, manage their fever as normal with rest and fluids. It may also help to dress them in light clothing and put a cool face washer on their forehead. Avoid applying ice packs or putting them in a bath; this can cause shivering, which may raise their body temperature further.

    If your child does not become more alert within 30 minutes, call an ambulance (000).

    When to get help

    Call an ambulance (000) if:
    • your child has a seizure for the first time.
    • your child’s seizure lasts more than five minutes.
    • your child does not wake up when the seizure stops.
    • your child seems very sick when the seizure stops.
    • your child is struggling to breathe, blue or very pale.
    • your child still seems drowsy 30 minutes after the seizure stops.

    Go to a hospital if:
    • your child’s seizure lasts less than five minutes, and they were very unwell before the seizure.
      • only drive to the hospital if you have an adult to sit in the back with your child.
    • your child shows signs of a serious illness that is causing their fever (temperature of 38°C or more), such as a red and blotchy rash.
    • your child is under one month old.

    See a doctor or health professional if:
    • your child’s seizure lasts less than five minutes, and you are unsure what is causing their fever (temperature of 38°C or more).

    Look after your child at home if:
    • this was not their first seizure, and it lasted less than five minutes.
    • they returned to normal quickly.
    • you know the cause of the fever and feel comfortable with the way your child is handling it.

    Common questions about febrile seizures

    If my child has a febrile seizure, does that mean they have epilepsy?

    Epilepsy is a brain disorder. Children with epilepsy have repeated seizures without fever or any signs of other illness. Even if your child has many febrile seizures, it still does not mean they have epilepsy.

    Do febrile seizures cause brain damage?

    No matter how scary febrile seizures may look, they do not cause brain damage. Even very long febrile seizures lasting an hour or more rarely cause harm.

    If my child has one febrile seizure, will it happen again?

    Many children who have a febrile seizure will only have one in their lifetime. However, your child could have another febrile seizure in future. Your child should outgrow the tendency to have febrile seizures by the time they are about six years old.

    How can I prevent my child from having febrile seizures?

    Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent febrile seizures. Medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce a fever, but they will not stop seizures.

    How long after a febrile seizure can my child go to childcare or school?

    Your child can safely return to childcare or school once they have recovered from the illness that caused them to have a fever. Your child should stay home if they still have symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

    I am worried my child will have another seizure. Do I need to stay with them while they are sleeping?

    The chances of your child having another febrile seizure are very low. Even if they do, a cot or a bed is a safe place for it. You may want to remove objects like toys from around your child’s bed as a precaution, or set up a baby monitor, but you do not need to watch them while they sleep.

    Do I need to manage my child's fever differently after a febrile seizure?

    There is no need to change the way you manage your child’s fever after a febrile seizure, unless a doctor has advised otherwise. Giving your child medicine like paracetamol or ibuprofen will not prevent another seizure.

    For more information

    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed December 2025

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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