Seizures in children

Around three to five percent of children aged 6 months to 5 years have a seizure at some point. Children who have seizures are more likely to have second or further seizures and one child in four who has a seizure will have another within a year of the first. Children who have a sibling who has had a seizure are more likely to have them, as are children who are developmentally delayed or spent more than 28 days in a neonatal intensive are unit after they were born.

In most cases, seizures are harmless. That said, they can be upsetting and worrying, and you do need to take immediate action to make sure your child doesn’t get hurt and recovers afterwards.

What is a seizure?

A seizure may also be called a fit or convulsion. It happens when electrical signals in the brain malfunction and cause it to behave abnormally. This change can affect your child’s movement, levels of awareness and state of consciousness. Different types of seizure can affect different parts of the brain and may affect only a part of your child’s body, or his whole body.

The seizure will cause your child’s body to twitch and jerk, and he may appear to have difficulty breathing. His eyes may roll up into his head, he may drool or vomit, and he may lose consciousness. In some cases, your child may lose control of his bladder and bowel. A seizure may last only a few seconds or as long as 10-15 minutes.

What causes seizures?

Seizures in toddlers and young children usually occur because your child is ill and running a fever. They tend to happen during the first 24 hours of a fever and are more likely with temperatures higher than 102°F although it is possible for children to have seizures while running a mild fever (and this makes it more likely your child will have a second seizure).

Seizures can also be related to illness and infection, head injuries and low blood sugar. Rarely they can be caused by a brain tumor or by epilepsy (this usually results in recurrent seizures).

What to do if your child has a seizure

• Place your child on the ground away from any hard objects that might injure his limbs if he comes into contact with them.
• Lay him on his side so that he won’t choke if he vomits. 
• Make sure that he doesn't have anything in his mouth (and don't attempt to put anything in his mouth while he’s seizing).
• Don’t attempt to restrain your child during a seizure.
• Don’t try to lower a fever with medication or by sponging your child with tepid water during a seizure.
• Your child will likely be tired after the seizure, so allow him to rest.
  

Getting medical help

If it’s your child’s first seizure, call your pediatrician as soon as possible. She will likely want to check your child to make sure he isn’t suffering from any underlying infection. She may recommend fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to control a fever if your child has one, and to prevent seizures from recurring (never give aspirin, as it’s linked to a rare but dangerous condition called Reyes syndrome). Your doctor may also recommend sponging your child with tepid water to help cool him down.

If your child’s seizure is caused by a high fever, this is usually the result of a cold or flu, roseola or an ear infection. Rarely it may be caused by meningitis – if your child seems unusually cranky, has a high pitched cry, is floppy and sensitive to bright light, call your pediatrician immediately. Meningitis can also cause a purplish pinprick or blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with the side of a glass, although not every child with meningitis gets this.

If the seizure isn’t linked to a fever, your doctor may recommend that your child sees a pediatric neurologist for further evaluation. She may be given an electroencephalograph (EEG) to record electrical activity in her brain. The test involves attaching electrode pads to your child’s scalp but it isn’t painful and should confirm whether your child is likely to have another seizure and whether further tests are necessary.

Call 911 if your child’s seizure lasts longer than a few minutes, as this is considered a medical emergency. You also should call 911 if he has difficulty breathing, turns bluish or loses consciousness, if he sustained a head injury prior to the seizure, if he seems ill afterwards or if it is possible he may have swallowed a toxic substance or medications.

The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.