Last updated: October 2026
If your child is having a febrile seizure, lay them on their side on a soft, clear surface, note the time, and do not put anything in their mouth. Most febrile seizures stop on their own within one to two minutes. Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if your child has trouble breathing, or if they do not wake up afterward. Once it ends, call your pediatrician the same day so the cause of the fever can be checked.
Watching a child seize is one of the most frightening things a parent can go through. The good news is that febrile seizures are common, almost always brief, and do not cause lasting harm. Here is what is happening, what to do in the moment, and what comes next.
Key takeaways
- Febrile seizures affect 2 to 5 percent of children between 6 months and 5 years, with a peak around 12 to 18 months.
- During a seizure: side position, soft surface, time it, nothing in the mouth. Call 911 at the 5 minute mark.
- Fever medicine lowers the temperature but does not prevent febrile seizures.
- Simple febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, and the added epilepsy risk is small.
What is a febrile seizure?
A febrile seizure is a convulsion triggered by fever in a young child who does not have epilepsy or another brain condition. It usually happens on the first day of an illness, often before parents even realize their child is sick. A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher can set one off. [Source: MedlinePlus 2024]
During a typical febrile seizure, the child loses consciousness, the body stiffens, and the arms and legs jerk on both sides. Eyes may roll back. Some children moan, drool, or lose bladder control. Afterward they are usually sleepy or confused for a short while, then return to themselves.
Febrile seizures are not caused by how high the fever climbs. They tend to happen as the temperature rises quickly, which is why many children have one before the fever is even noticed. The fever itself usually comes from an ordinary virus, an ear infection, or another common childhood illness. Our guide on child fever and when to worry covers fever on its own.
How common are febrile seizures and who gets them?
Febrile seizures affect about 2 to 5 percent of children between 6 months and 5 years of age, with the peak between 12 and 18 months. [Source: NIH NLM 2018] The AAP puts it at 3 or 4 of every 100 children, most often around 12 to 18 months. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024]
They run in families. A child whose parent or sibling had febrile seizures is more likely to have one too. Boys are affected slightly more often than girls. Children who attend daycare and catch frequent fevers also have more chances for one to happen.
Most children outgrow febrile seizures by school age as the developing brain becomes less sensitive to sudden temperature changes. A child who has one at 14 months and never again is the usual story, not the exception.
Simple vs complex febrile seizures: what is the difference?
About 80 to 85 percent of febrile seizures are simple, meaning brief, affecting the whole body, and happening once in a 24 hour period. [Source: NIH NLM 2018] The remaining 15 to 20 percent are called complex. The difference matters because it changes what the pediatrician does next.
| Feature | Simple febrile seizure | Complex febrile seizure |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Under 15 minutes (usually under 5) | 15 minutes or longer |
| Body involvement | Both sides of the body | One side, one limb, or one part of the face |
| Repeats in 24 hours | No | Yes, more than one in the same illness |
| Share of all febrile seizures | About 80 to 85 percent | About 15 to 20 percent |
| Added epilepsy risk | About 1 percent | About 4 to 6 percent |
| Usual follow-up | Exam to find the fever source | Exam plus possible EEG or further testing |
A seizure that lasts over 15 minutes, affects only one part of the body, or comes back during the same illness is not a typical febrile seizure and deserves a closer look. [Source: MedlinePlus 2024] Even then, most children with complex febrile seizures do fine.
Febrile seizure: what to do while it is happening
Stay with your child, keep them safe, and time it. Lower them to the floor or a bed, turn them on their side so saliva or vomit can drain, and clear away anything hard or sharp. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024] Then look at the clock. Knowing how long the seizure lasted is the single most useful piece of information you can give the pediatrician.
Here is the short list to remember:
- Side: roll your child onto their side so the airway stays clear.
- Soft surface: floor, bed, or a blanket slid under them if the floor is hard. Move them only if they are in danger.
- Time it: note when it starts and when it stops.
- Nothing in the mouth: no fingers, no spoon, no cloth. Your child cannot swallow their tongue, and objects can break teeth or block breathing.
- Loosen clothing around the neck and do not try to hold the movements still.
Do not try to give fever medicine, water, or anything by mouth during the seizure. Do not put your child in a bath. If you can, have someone record a short video. Seeing the movements helps the pediatrician tell a febrile seizure apart from other events like shivering or breath holding.
When should I call 911 for a febrile seizure?
Call 911 if the seizure does not stop after 5 minutes. A seizure longer than 5 minutes is treated as a medical emergency. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024] Emergency crews carry rescue medicine that can stop a prolonged seizure safely.
Also call 911 right away if your child:
- Is having a seizure for the first time.
- Has trouble breathing or lips that look blue or gray.
- Does not wake up or respond after the seizure ends.
- Has a second seizure before fully recovering from the first.
- Was injured during the seizure, or the seizure happened in water.
- Looks very ill, has a stiff neck, or has an unusual rash.
If this is your child’s first seizure, the AAP advises calling 911 or going to the emergency department even if it stopped on its own, so the cause of the fever can be checked right away. If your child has had a febrile seizure before, it stopped within a few minutes, and your child woke up and is acting normally, call your pediatrician the same day. Every one of our Marietta, East Cobb, Alpharetta, and Cumming offices sees sick children the same day, and a first febrile seizure always earns a same-day exam.
Does fever medicine prevent febrile seizures?
No. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can bring the temperature down and make a child more comfortable, but they do not prevent febrile seizures. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024] Controlled studies have found no preventive effect on recurrence, and antipyretics have no role in preventing them. [Source: NIH NLM 2018]
This surprises many parents who feel they should have caught the fever sooner. You did nothing wrong. The seizure often happens as the first sign of illness, before any medicine could have been given. Treat fever for comfort, not out of fear of a seizure.
Daily seizure medicine is not recommended for simple febrile seizures either. The side effects outweigh the benefit for a condition that is harmless and that children outgrow. In rare cases of repeated prolonged seizures, a pediatrician or neurologist may prescribe a rescue medicine to keep at home, but that decision is individual.
Will my child have another febrile seizure?
About one in three children who have a first febrile seizure will have another one, and fewer than 10 percent have three or more. [Source: NIH NLM 2018] Age at the first seizure matters most. Children under 1 year old at their first seizure have about a 50 percent chance of a repeat, while otherwise healthy children over 1 have about a 30 percent chance. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024]
| Situation | Approximate chance of another febrile seizure |
|---|---|
| Any child after a first febrile seizure | About 1 in 3 |
| First seizure before age 1 | About 50 percent |
| First seizure after age 1 | About 30 percent |
| No risk factors present | About 4 percent |
| Three or more febrile seizures | Fewer than 10 percent of children |
Other things that raise the odds include a family history of febrile seizures, a seizure within the first hour of fever, and a relatively low temperature at the time of the first seizure. None of these change the long-term outlook. They simply mean you may see it again before your child grows out of it.
Do febrile seizures cause brain damage or epilepsy?
Simple febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, nervous system problems, intellectual disability, or death. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024] Studies have not found a lasting effect on intelligence or learning after a simple febrile seizure.
The epilepsy question deserves an honest answer. After a simple febrile seizure, the chance of later epilepsy is about 1 percent, compared with about 0.5 percent in the general population. After a complex febrile seizure the risk is about 4 to 6 percent. [Source: NIH NLM 2018] That means the large majority of children, even those with complex seizures, never develop epilepsy.
The number of febrile seizures a child has does not change the epilepsy risk. [Source: MedlinePlus 2024] A child who has three brief febrile seizures by age 3 is not at higher risk than a child who had one.
How a pediatrician helps after a febrile seizure
After a first febrile seizure, the most important job is finding and treating the cause of the fever. A spinal tap is rarely needed, but it may be considered for children under 1 year to rule out meningitis. [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024] Routine EEG and brain imaging are not recommended for a healthy child after a simple febrile seizure.
At the visit, the pediatrician will ask how long the seizure lasted, what the movements looked like, and how quickly your child recovered. The exam looks for ear infections, strep throat, flu, and other fever sources. During Georgia’s fall and winter respiratory season, rapid testing for strep, flu, RSV, and COVID can often name the cause in minutes.
Our practice offers same-day sick visits every day at all four North Atlanta offices, including Cobb County and Forsyth County families. Every physician is board certified and cares for children from birth through 18. If the seizure happens on a weekend, our Saturday clinic is open, and a secure video visit works well for follow-up questions once your child has been examined in person.
For a child with a complex febrile seizure, the pediatrician may refer to a pediatric neurologist. For everyone else, the plan is usually simple: treat the illness, keep your child comfortable, and keep an eye on hydration. Our post on signs of dehydration in babies explains what to watch for when a feverish child drinks less.
Frequently asked questions about febrile seizures
Should I take my child to the ER after a febrile seizure that stopped on its own?
For a first febrile seizure, yes: go to the ER or call 911 so meningitis and other causes can be ruled out. For a repeat brief seizure in a child who has had one before, a same-day pediatrician visit is usually enough. A same-day office visit can find the cause of the fever and confirm it was a simple febrile seizure. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if the seizure lasted more than 5 minutes, your child is hard to wake, breathing looks labored, there is a stiff neck or unusual rash, or this is a baby under 12 months. When in doubt, call. Our phones are answered every day.
Can a febrile seizure happen without a high fever?
Yes. Febrile seizures are linked to how fast the temperature rises, not how high it gets. Many children seize at 101°F or 102°F, and some have a seizure before the parent knows a fever exists. Any temperature of 100.4°F or above counts as a fever that can trigger one. This is why fever-reducing medicine does not prevent febrile seizures. By the time you notice warmth and reach for the medicine, the trigger has often already happened. Focus on comfort and fluids, and let the pediatrician find the source of the fever.
Is it safe for my child to get vaccines after a febrile seizure?
Yes. A history of febrile seizures is not a reason to skip or delay vaccines. Some vaccines can cause a mild fever, and in rare cases that fever can trigger a febrile seizure in a child who is prone to them. The seizure is brief and harmless, while the diseases vaccines prevent, such as measles, flu, and pneumococcal infection, cause far higher fevers and far more serious illness. Tell your pediatrician about the seizure history so they can advise you on comfort measures around vaccine day. Our wellness and preventive care visits keep the schedule on track.
Will my child remember the seizure or be scared afterward?
Almost never. Children are unconscious during a febrile seizure and have no memory of it. The drowsy, confused period afterward usually fades within an hour. The person most shaken is almost always the parent. It is normal to feel anxious at the next fever, and it helps to have a plan: know the first aid steps, keep a phone nearby, and remember that most febrile seizures last less than two minutes. If your worry feels hard to manage, mention it at the follow-up visit. Pediatricians talk parents through this every week.
A febrile seizure is frightening, but your child will be okay
Febrile seizures are common, brief, and do not harm the developing brain. Your job in the moment is simple: side, soft surface, time it, nothing in the mouth, and 911 at 5 minutes. After it passes, let a pediatrician find the cause of the fever and answer your questions in person. If your child has had a febrile seizure or you want a plan before the next fever, request an appointment or call (678) 501-5601. Same-day sick visits are available at all four offices every day.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Contact your pediatrician for care specific to your child.
