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Febrile seizures - what to ask your doctor

Definition

Your child has had a febrile seizure. A simple febrile seizure stops by itself within a few seconds to a few minutes. It is most often followed by a brief period of drowsiness or confusion. The first febrile seizure is a frightening moment for parents.

Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your child's febrile seizures.

Alternative Names

What to ask your doctor about febrile seizures

Questions

Will my child have any brain damage from the febrile seizure?

Will my child have any more seizures?

  • Is my child more likely to have a seizure the next time he or she has a fever?
  • Is there anything I can do to prevent another seizure?

Does my child need medicine for seizures? Does my child need to see a provider who takes care of people with seizures?

Do I need to take any safety measures at home to keep my child safe in case there is another seizure?

Do I need to discuss this seizure with my child's teacher? Can my child participate in gym class and recess when my child goes back to school or day care?

Are there any sports activities that my child should not do? Does my child need to wear a helmet for any type of activities?

Will I always be able to tell if my child is having a seizure?

What should I do if my child has another seizure?

  • When should I call 911 or the local emergency number?
  • After the seizure is over, what should I do?
  • When should I call the doctor?

References

Mick NW. Pediatric fever. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 161.

Mikati MA, Tchapyjnikov D. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 611.

Last reviewed January 24, 2023 by Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..