Watching your child experience a seizure can be frightening for any parent. While seizures are a medical emergency, knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make a significant difference.
According to Dr. Sagar Lad, Pediatric Intensive Care Specialist at MomStory, febrile seizures (convulsions caused by fever) are among the most common reasons for seizures in young children. With timely first aid and medical attention, most children recover well without long-term complications.
If you’re looking for guidance from the best pediatrician in Pune, understanding seizure first aid can help you respond calmly during an emergency.
What Is a Febrile Seizure?
A febrile seizure is a convulsion triggered by a sudden rise in body temperature, usually due to fever. Young children, especially infants and toddlers, may experience seizures because their developing brains are more sensitive to rapid temperature changes.
Although febrile seizures can look alarming, they are often short-lived and manageable with prompt treatment.
Why Is Immediate Treatment Important?
During a prolonged seizure, the brain may temporarily receive less oxygen.
If seizures continue for an extended period without treatment, they may increase the risk of complications affecting the developing brain. Early intervention helps reduce these risks and improves outcomes.
The primary goal at home is to stop the seizure safely while arranging urgent medical care.
What Should Parents Do During a Seizure?
If your child develops a seizure:
1. Place Your Child on Their Side
Turn your child onto one side (recovery or lateral position). This helps:
- Keep the airway open
- Allow saliva or secretions to drain safely
- Reduce the risk of choking
2. Do Not Put Anything Inside the Mouth
Avoid inserting:
- Fingers
- Spoons
- Metal objects
- Cloth
Contrary to popular belief, putting objects into a child’s mouth during a seizure can cause serious injury.
3. Reduce the Fever
If fever is present:
- Use fever-reducing medication exactly as advised by your pediatrician.
- If your child cannot swallow medicine during a seizure, your doctor may recommend a fever-reducing suppository for emergency situations.
Controlling the fever may help reduce the chances of recurrent febrile seizures.
4. Use Emergency Seizure Medication (If Prescribed)
Children with a known history of seizures may be prescribed intranasal Midazolam by their pediatrician.
General guidance includes:
- Wait briefly while ensuring your child’s airway remains open.
- If the seizure continues beyond a few minutes and your doctor has advised it, administer the prescribed nasal spray exactly as instructed.
- Follow the prescribed dose based on your child’s weight.
Never administer additional doses beyond your doctor’s recommendation, as excessive medication may affect breathing.
5. Take Your Child to the Hospital Immediately
Even if the seizure stops, your child should be evaluated by a doctor to determine the cause and assess whether further treatment is needed.
Consult a child specialist in Pune or visit the nearest emergency department without delay.
When Should You Call an Ambulance?
Seek emergency medical assistance immediately if:
- The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
- Your child has difficulty breathing.
- The seizure repeats without full recovery.
- Your child remains unconscious after the seizure.
- It is your child’s first seizure.
- The seizure occurs without fever.
- Your child sustains an injury during the episode.
Can Febrile Seizures Be Prevented?
Children who have experienced recurrent febrile seizures may sometimes be prescribed preventive medication during episodes of fever.
Your pediatrician may recommend medications such as Clobazam for a short duration in selected children who are at high risk of recurrent febrile seizures. This medication should only be used under medical supervision.
Never start preventive seizure medication without consulting your doctor.
What Happens After the Seizure?
Once the seizure has stopped, your child’s doctor will evaluate the underlying cause.
Depending on the clinical situation, your child may require:
- Physical examination
- Blood tests
- Fever evaluation
- Infection assessment
- Brain imaging (only when indicated)
- EEG or neurological evaluation in selected cases
Most febrile seizures do not require long-term anti-seizure medication.
Can Prolonged Seizures Cause Complications?
Seizures that continue for a prolonged period may develop into status epilepticus, a serious medical emergency requiring immediate hospital treatment.
Prompt first aid and early medical intervention greatly reduce the risk of complications.
Important Safety Tips for Parents
- Stay calm and note the time the seizure starts.
- Lay your child on their side.
- Never restrain your child’s movements.
- Never place anything inside the mouth.
- Do not give food or water during the seizure.
- Use prescribed emergency medication only if advised by your doctor.
- Seek emergency medical care immediately after the seizure.
When Should You Consult a Pediatrician?
If your child has experienced:
- A first-time seizure
- Recurrent febrile seizures
- Seizures without fever
- Frequent episodes of high fever
- Developmental concerns after a seizure
schedule an evaluation with an experienced pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Final Takeaway
Febrile seizures are one of the most common medical emergencies seen in children. While they can be extremely distressing for parents, knowing the correct first aid steps—placing the child on their side, avoiding anything in the mouth, managing the fever, using prescribed emergency medication when indicated, and seeking immediate medical attention—can help ensure your child’s safety.
Early recognition and timely treatment are the keys to preventing complications and ensuring the best possible outcome for your child.
