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Although alarming, a febrile convulsion is not usually dangerous. Full recovery is usual. Most illnesses which cause fever and febrile convulsions are the common coughs, colds, and virus infections which are not usually serious. However, the illness that causes the fever is sometimes serious, for example, pneumonia.

The child should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible after a convulsion for a check over to rule out serious illness. However, call a doctor or ambulance urgently if:

• the child does not improve quickly once a short convulsion is over.
• a convulsion lasts more than five minutes.
• another convulsion starts soon after the first one stops.
• the child has difficulty breathing.
• Is treatment needed?

No treatment is usually needed for the convulsion itself if it stops within a few minutes. (However, treatment may be needed for the infection causing the fever.)

Sometimes the convulsion lasts longer, and a doctor may give a medicine to stop it. For example, a doctor may put diazepam liquid into the rectum (back passage) where it is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and stops a convulsion. Sometimes the parents of children who are prone to recurrent febrile convulsions are taught how to use this medicine. They are then given a supply to have in case a further febrile convulsion occurs.

Does a febrile convulsion cause any permanent damage?

Usually not. Full recovery is usual with no after-effects. (Sometimes the infection causing the convulsion causes complications, but the convulsion itself does not usually cause any damage.) Rarely, a long convulsion which lasts 30 minutes or more may cause some injury to the brain.

Is a febrile convulsion a type of epilepsy?

No. The cause of a febrile convulsion is related to the feverish illness and is not due to any brain abnormality. Epilepsy causes convulsions (seizures or fits) without fever.

About 1 in 100 children who have two or more febrile convulsions develop epilepsy in later childhood. This is slightly higher than the chance of epilepsy developing in children who have not had a febrile convulsion. So, febrile convulsions and epilepsy are two separate conditions, but a very small number of children may be prone to develop both epilepsy and febrile convulsions.

Should a child who has had a febrile convulsion have immunisations?

Yes. Some children develop a fever following immunisation. A very small number of children develop a febrile convulsion following an immunisation. However, this is very unlikely to cause any permanent harm, or to happen again after a future immunisation.

© EMIS and PIP 2005 Updated: March 2005 Review Date: Sept 2006 CHIQ Accredited PRODIGY Validated

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