Febrile seizures are generally not harmful and do not cause any long-term damage to the brain. Most febrile seizures stop on their own within a few minutes and do not require specific treatment.
However, you shouldn’t try to treat a first-time febrile seizure at home. A first-time febrile seizure needs immediate medical care to make sure that it isn’t another kind of seizure or that it isn’t happening because of a severe infection like meningitis or encephalitis (both of which can be life-threatening).
If your child has a history of febrile seizures, your healthcare provider can guide you on what to do to treat these at home. In general, you should do the following:
- Stay calm. Seeing your child having a seizure can be very frightening, but it’s important for you to keep as calm as possible.
- Track the time. Note how long your child’s seizure lasts. If the seizure lasts five minutes or more and isn’t slowing down or stopping, you should immediately call 911 (or your local emergency services number).
- Slowly and gently set your child down on the floor. Don’t set a child on a table or bed (they could fall), and don’t try to hold them in your arms or hold them down (that increases the risk of an injury).
- Place them in the rescue position. Lay your child on their left side with their lower arm stretched straight out, so it’s like a cushion for their head. This helps prevent choking from fluid (saliva or vomit) going into their lungs.
- Don’t put anything in their mouth. That could result in an injury for your child or you.
Your doctor may recommend treatment to lower the fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce the risk of another seizure. In some cases, your doctor may recommend anti-seizure medication to prevent future febrile seizures if your child has frequent or long-lasting seizures.
It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions and to monitor your child’s fever and symptoms closely. If your child has a febrile seizure, it is a good idea to have a plan in place with your doctor for how to manage future seizures.