Febrile seizures often occur in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Experiencing a febrile seizure can be extremely alarming, particularly when the cause and appropriate first aid actions are unclear. Before learning what to handle febrile seizures in children, it is important to know the underlying causes.

What is a febrile seizure?

Febrile seizures occur when a child has a seizure due to a fever, and these seizures only occur when the child has a high body temperature. The child may experience repetitive jerking of the limbs and arms, accompanied by eyes rolling upwards or even loss of consciousness.

Fever seizures occur when a child has a fever with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius. Convulsions can last from a few seconds to several minutes. If convulsions last for more than 15 minutes and recur more than once within 24 hours, seek medical help immediately.

What causes febrile seizures in children?

High fever in children aged 6 months to 5 years can lead to seizures. Febrile seizures most commonly occur on the first day of the child's illness as their body temperature rises. Viral infections can also cause fever in children and trigger febrile seizures. Examples of viral infections include:

• Chickenpox
• Covid-19
• Ear infections
• Influenza
• Malaria
• Meningitis
• Gastroenteritis
• Acute respiratory infections
• Tonsillitis

Some vaccinations can also cause adverse event following immunization (AEFI) reactions, such as fever. In some children, if they experience a high fever, it can trigger febrile seizures. It is important to note that it is not the vaccine that causes febrile seizures, but the fever itself. A child may experience febrile seizures if they have a history of them.

What should you do when a child has a febrile seizure?

Febrile seizures can be a frightening experience for every parent. However, there is no need to panic excessively. Here is a guide on what to do if your child experiences a febrile seizure at home:

• Stay calm and don't panic when dealing with a child who has a fever. Observe the seizures that occur in the child, such as the symptoms, duration of the seizures, and the recurrence of seizure
• If the seizures last for 5 minutes or more and show no signs of stopping, seek immediate emergency medical assistance
• When dealing with a febrile child, be prepared to take them to the nearest hospital for further examination
• Avoid placing the child on a table or bed due to the risk of falling; instead, lay the child on the floor or carry them in your arms to reduce the risk of injury. Lay the child on their left side with the lower arm as a pillow; this can help prevent choking on fluids and the entry of fluids into the airway
• Do not put anything in the child's mouth that could cause further injury, and do not immerse the child in a bathtub to reduce their body temperature

Febrile seizures in children are unpredictable and cannot be prevented. It is important to have your child examined by a doctor when the first febrile seizure occurs or if febrile seizures occur repeatedly. You may need to prepare fever-reducing medication if your child has a fever. However, it is important to understand that such medication cannot prevent febrile seizures.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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