Fever fits (febrile convulsion/ febrile seizure)

(The terms seizure, fits, convulsion are used interchangeably here. But in medicine, there is difference between these words)
Some children have a tendency to throw seizure (commonly people refer to it as fits) when they have fever. This is fairly common in children between 6 months to 6 years of age. It may be frightening for the parents to watch their child fitting. Some knowledge about this condition not only helps to keep calm, but also to manage the child appropriately.

Can my child develop fever fits?
The parents who know about fever fits (through friends or relatives) tend to ask this question. Any child may develop fever fits. The chances of developing fever fits increase if there is a family history of the same (if one or both parents or siblings had febrile convulsion in childhood). We can also say that recurrent infections with fever also increase the chances of having a fever fits. A child with a tendency to fit may take a seizure even when he has a low grade fever.

How does a child look while having a fever fit?
A child may not feel quite right and may be uncomfortable. He may not be able to express how he is feeling. You may just notice him to collapse/ loose consciousness. The whole body may go very stiff and then arms, legs and body may start twitching. Most of the time whole episode lasts for a very short time (around 5 min). Drooling and soiling is common with fits. Child may look very pale or even blue (especially around the mouth and lips) for a brief period. Young child may sometimes just go limp and unresponsive without obvious twitching. Once the jerking stops usually the child is sleepy for a short while (time varies usually 15-20min).

What can you do when a child is fitting?
Try to calm down and do not panic.
Call the ambulance if you are too frightened.
Make sure he is in a safe place (eg on the floor).
Remove the furniture, sharp things from surrounding.
You can turn his head to one side.
Do not put anything in the mouth.
When jerking stops put the child on his side. This is called recovery position(as seen in the picture). This helps to prevent aspiration.
If the fit does not stop by 5 min you need to call an ambulance.
If it is the first episode of febrile fits/ if you do not know the cause of fever/ you are worried about anything else you need to see the doctor even if the convulsion stops within 5 min.


Measures to control temperature
Whenever your child develops fever administer an appropriate dose of fever medicines (eg. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen). Paracetamol is a safe medicine. Parents should not hesitate to give this medicine to their children for high temperature. Giving smaller doses (less than the required amount) may not bring the temperature down effectively. So, make sure you keep this medicine always handy and give appropriate dose to your child whenever he develops fever.
Remove excessive clothing.
You can use cold cloth to keep on the face of the child to reduce temperature.
Give plenty of fluids.

Not so good signs
Fever fits lasting for more than 15 min.
Fever fits involving only a part of the body (eg, one leg/ arm/ one side) and not the whole body.
Fever fits recurring within 24 hours/ during the same episode of fever.
In these circumstances you must consult a paediatrician.

Good things about fever fits
Simple fever fits (fits due to fever of common causes such as viral infection, sore throat etc lasting for less than 15 min), do not cause brain damage or developmental delay.
Most of the children who develop fever fits do not develop epilepsy later on in life.

Children usually grow out of it by 5-6 years of age. Some children suffer only one episode of febrile fits in life whereas others develop fits whenever they have a fever. It is not possible to predict who does what.

It is important to establish the cause for fever when a child develops fever fits.