Febrile Fits / Convulsions

Febrile Fits or Convulsions are scary episodes for all involved. However they last no longer than five minutes and are generally not life-threatening. Neither is there any lasting damage. A child will develop a temperature over a short period of time and suddenly fall to the floor having what appears to be an epileptic episode. However Febrile Fits should not be confused with Epilepsy - they do not lead to epilepsy and are surprisingly common.


What to Do

There are two parts - the preceding fever and the actual fit or convulsion.
Control the fever with a medicine recommended by either your doctor or pharmacist. Give them lots to drink, preferably water or squash. Keep their temperature down by undressing them if necessary.

During a fit:
- Don't Panic.
- Try and move any dangerous objects out of the way.
- After the fit your child may be groggy, if not, keep them calm.
- Seek immediate medical attention.