What Are the Treatments for Febrile Seizures?

Febrile seizures are convulsions in which a child shakes and loses consciousness. The seizure may cause the child to stiffen and an arm or leg to twitch. Febrile seizures usually only last a moment or two, but can last as long as 15 minutes.

Symptoms & Causes

• Symptoms include eyes rolling, stiff limbs, convulsions, vomiting and biting the tongue. The seizures can be caused by fevers from ear and upper respiratory infections, or meningitis.

Treatment During

• Treatment during the seizure includes loosening or removing tight clothing, and turning the child on his side if vomit, saliva or mucus builds up in the mouth.

Dos & Don'ts

• During the febrile seizure, don't move the child and don't put anything inside her mouth to keep her from biting her tongue. Remove any objects he has that might cause injury.

Treating Fever

• Try to bring down the child's fever using cool washcloths on the child's head and neck, giving ibuprofen or Tylenol after the seizure, and giving the child an acetaminophen suppository.

Other Treatment

• Most febrile seizures don't require further treatment, but if the seizures are complex and the child is younger than 18 months, a doctor may recommend hospitalization to observe the child.