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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.
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 contact the provider?
Alternative Names
What to ask your doctor about febrile seizures
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, Rathke KM. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 633.
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Patient Instructions
Review Date 1/17/2025
Updated by: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.