Febrile convulsions in children

Introduction
Your child has had a febrile convulsion. This can be a frightening experience for you as parents. You will probably have questions about this convulsion; we hope that this leaflet will provide answers to some of them.  

What is a febrile convulsion?
 A convulsion is a sudden disturbance in the (electrical) brain function. A disturbance of this kind leads to a loss of consciousness and muscular spasms in the arms and/or legs. Convulsions in young children are usually caused by a high temperature resulting from a cold or ear/throat infection. We call this a febrile convulsion (febrile is derived from the word ‘fever’). It is different from epilepsy. With epilepsy, the convulsions occur even when the child does not have a high temperature.  

Febrile convulsions are quite common
Approximately 5% of all children will have a febrile convulsion at some time. They occur in children between 6 months and 6 years old.  

What are the symptoms?
Early signs of a febrile convulsion include smacking with the mouth, muscular spasms and rolling of the eyes. The child will then lose consciousness. A convulsion is not painful. Some children may even stop breathing and turn a little blue, but they soon come round after a short period of unconsciousness (with or without spasms). The child will be very tired when it regains consciousness and will probably fall into a deep sleep. Some children complain of a headache.  

What are the consequences?
In principle, febrile convulsions do not cause any damage to the brain. A child that has had a febrile convulsion will not develop any differently from a child that has not. It is a harmless disorder with no long-term side-effects.
The chance of a child developing epilepsy at a later date is very small and depends on whether epilepsy is inherited in the family.
Your child must always be examined by a doctor after a febrile convulsion. The doctor will be able to say whether the convulsion really was caused by a high fever and will also be able to arrange for further tests or treatment should this be necessary.  

Admission to hospital
Children are sometimes admitted to hospital for observation after suffering a febrile convulsion. The child will be closely monitored, and its temperature will be taken every 3 to 6 hours, depending on the situation.  

Is my child likely to have another febrile convulsion?
On average, a third of all children that suffer a febrile convulsion will have a recurrence. It may be a good idea to ask your family doctor to prescribe a tube of Stesolid just in case.  

What should I do if it happens again?
In general, a second (or third etc.) febrile convulsion will pass by itself. The most important thing is to stay calm. Make sure that you child cannot injure itself and lay it on something soft. Turn your child onto its side so that it can breathe easily. Try to remove any food, vomit or other objects from its mouth. You can insert the content of a tube of Stesolid via the anus. Only do this while your child is unconscious. The febrile convulsion should then stop within a few minutes. The febrile convulsion will often pass before you have the chance to administer Stesolid, making it unnecessary.  

If the convulsion does not stop within 15 minutes, you may only administer Stesolid a second time if you have agreed this with the doctor beforehand. If not, take your child to hospital quickly. You should also go to hospital if your child does not come round after a second dose of Stesolid. Hospital staff will be able to inject drugs to bring your child round.
A child that suffers a recurring febrile convulsion should also be examined by the family doctor. Who will be able to say whether the convulsion was indeed caused by a high temperature. The family doctor will arrange further tests or treatment if necessary.  

What to do if your child has fever
Small children often have a fever. It is in line with their stage of physical development and is difficult to prevent.
You can, however, try to keep track of the fever. Take the child’s temperature regularly and consult the family doctor. Use the table below to make notes of your child’s temperature and when it has a febrile convulsion. Dress your child in cool clothes if it has a high temperature and cover it with a thin blanket. Make sure that you have Stesolid in the house and take it with you on holiday. Remember that in principle febrile convulsions are harmless. You can ask your family doctor whether it is a good idea to give your child paracetamol when it has a high temperature. You should always contact your family doctor after a febrile convulsion.  

Name of your child:

Date	Temperature	Febrile convulsion

Note down any further comments here:  

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Edition: June 2010/231