Seizure
Fits, seizures and convulsions generally mean the same thing.
Seeing a child or young person having a fit can be frightening. Most fits do not cause serious harm. The commonest type of fit in children is a febrile convulsion. This is a fit associated with a high temperature. This sort of fit tends to occur in younger children. Fits sometimes occur without a fever (afebrile fit or seizure). If your child has had only one afebrile fit, it does not always mean they have epilepsy. Many children will never have another one.
First aid for a convulsive seizure:
A convulsive seizure is where the child is stiff or shaking. The information below can help you to focus when your child is having a seizure. It can help you to give first aid to keep them safe:
Do
- Stay calm
- Protect them from injury (remove harmful objects from nearby)
- Cushion or gently hold your child’s head to protect them from head injury
- Note the date and time the seizure started. If stiffness and jerking continues for 5 minutes or more you should call 999 for an ambulance
- Turn your child onto their side, into the recovery position (see below) as soon as you are able (as shown in Image 1). This can help with their breathing and help if they vomit or have other types of fluid in their mouth. Some noisy breathing and slight colour change is common
- If possible, try to video the seizure on a mobile phone as it can provide a lot of useful information to your child’s doctor or nurse. Video can help confirm the type of seizure which then helps decide which tests and treatment may be needed. Try to capture the whole child in the video, say out loud what you are seeing and show how they respond to you
- Stay with your child until they are fully recovered
- Your child may be confused, drowsy or fall asleep after a seizure. Reassure them if they are confused, let them rest or sleep if they are drowsy, make sure you keep an eye on them until they are fully recovered
Do not
- Restrain or restrict your child’s movements
- Move your child unless they are in danger
- Put anything in their mouth
- Give your child anything to eat or drink until they have fully recovered
Call 999 for an ambulance if:
- The stiffness or jerking continues for 5 minutes or more
- One seizure follows another before your child has fully recovered
- Your child is injured, or you are worried about their breathing
Please see Red-Amber-Green tables for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Is under 1 year of age
- The first time your child has had a fit (seizure)
- Has a fit that lasts longer than 5 minutes
- They have one fit after another without being awake in between
- They are seriously injured during the fit
- Remain drowsy or confused more than an hour after their fit
- Has weakness of the arms or legs, visual difficulties (double vision) or difficulty speaking after the fit has stopped
- They have trouble breathing after the fit has stopped
- Breathing very fast or breathing that stops or pauses
- Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
- Becomes pale, blue, mottled and/or unusually cold to touch
- Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the glass test)
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or call 999 - dial 999.
If your child has any of the following:
- Has another fit (less than 5 minutes) within the same illness
- Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
- Dry skin, lips, tongue or looking pale
- Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 12 hours
- Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
- Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
- A temperature 39oC or above in babies 3-6 months
- Temperature of 38oC or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
- Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please contact your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111.
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.
If none of the above features are present
Seizure lasting less than 5 minutes with full recovery in a child with previous febrile convulsions or known epilepsy
- Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
- If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111.
Self care and Prevention
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