This guideline relates to febrile seizures in
paediatric outpatients. For more information on assessment and management,
please see: Clinical Practice
Guidelines:Febrile seizure
When to refer
Children with a
diagnosis of febrile seizures do not require a referral to neurology unless the seizures are
complex or recurrent (refer to a general paediatrician)
- Complex febrile seizures are those with:
- Focal features at onset or during the seizure
- Duration greater than 15 minutes
- Recurrence within the same febrile illness
- Neurology will accept referrals for children with febrile seizures where
there is a role for genetic testing to diagnose Dravet syndrome. These are
developmentally normal children with:
o One prolonged (5-29
minutes duration) hemiclonic febrile seizure
o More than one
prolonged (5-29 minutes duration) febrile seizure under 12 months
o Febrile status
epilepticus (> 30 minutes duration) under 15 months
Wait time for appointments
Specialist Clinic wait times
Services available closer to home
Alternative paediatric services available in Victoria:
- Austin Hospital
- Box Hill Hospital (Eastern Health)
- Monash Children’s Hospital
- The Northern Hospital
- Sunshine Hospital (Western Health)
- Detailed history and
assessment, including duration
of symptoms and details of all treatments offered or tried
- EEG is not required for febrile seizures (simple or complex)
How to refer
Specialist Clinics referral
Please complete the above and submit via:
Facsimile (03)
9345 5034 or
Email screferrals@rch.org.au
Clinical queries call
the Neurology department
(03) 9345 5661
The
development of this guideline
was coordinated by the Department of Neurology. Guideline
reviewed in July 2026.