Febrile seizure

Assessment of a febrile seizure

Signs of a seizure:

• Sudden shaking of the head, body, and limbs
• The child is temporarily unresponsive and experiences a loss of consciousness.
• The eyes may roll, and the gaze appears fixed.
• There may be uncontrolled urination or defecation.
• A tongue bite may occur, possibly resulting in bloody saliva in the mouth.
• The child may have warm, reddened skin due to fever.
• A seizure usually lasts about 1–2 minutes. After the seizure, the child may fall asleep exhausted.

What measures should you take?

Dial the emergency number 112 immediately

• Do not try to hold the child’s body down.
• Protect the child from possible injuries, especially the head.
• If the child vomits, turn them onto their side to prevent choking.
• If the child has a fever, you can place cooling compresses on the chest and calves and undress the child or remove the diaper.

After the seizure:

• Talk to the child and touch them to check if they are responsive.
  
  • If the child responds to talking and is awake, create a calm and low-stimulation environment so they can rest.
    
  • If the child does not respond, check their breathing.
    • If breathing is normal, place the child in the recovery position.
    • If breathing is not normal, begin resuscitation if necessary.

During a seizure, it is important to remain calm and carry out the above measures as best as possible to help the child as effectively as possible.