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Febrile seizures are convulsions that occur in children, usually between the ages of six months and five years, triggered by a rapid spike in body temperature or fever. They are the most common type of seizure in early childhood.
read more about febrile seizures ...The mechanism is the brain's sensitivity to high body temperature. A rapid change in fever, rather than the level of the fever itself, triggers a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain, causing the body to convulse.
Simple febrile seizures cause brief loss of consciousness with body stiffening followed by rhythmic jerking of the limbs. Eyes roll upward and breathing can look irregular. The event lasts under five minutes in most cases, followed by a short period of sleepiness. Complex features include focal movements, duration beyond fifteen minutes, or more than one seizure in twenty-four hours.
Necessary safety measures focus on protecting the child from injury. The child should be placed on the floor in a safe area, placed on their side, and clothing around the neck should be loosened. Do not attempt to restrain the child or place anything in their mouth.
Febrile seizures do not directly impact vision or cause permanent eye damage. During the seizure, the eyes may roll back, and the pupils may dilate or become unresponsive. Vision and ocular function return to normal immediately after the seizure ends.
The prognosis is excellent. Febrile seizures are benign and do not cause brain damage or learning problems. Recurrence risk is about 30 percent, so prevention focuses on fever control.
No, febrile seizures are not epilepsy. They are benign and are caused only by fever.
Yes, always call emergency medical services immediately, especially if it is the child's first seizure or if it lasts over five minutes.
Prevention focuses on prompt use of fever-reducing medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) when a child is ill.
After a seizure, a pediatrician must rule out "Meningitis." If the seizure is "complex" (lasts longer than 15 minutes or affects only one side of the body), your child may need an EEG or MRI. Most children outgrow these seizures by age 5 without neurological deficits.
HealthyChildren.org. Febrile Seizures (healthychildren.org). 2025.
StatPearls. Febrile Seizure (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.
NHS. Febrile Seizures (nhs.uk). 2023.
NINDS. Febrile Seizures Info (ninds.nih.gov). 2024.