Health Tip: Facts About Febrile Seizures

When a child has a seizure that's related to a fever, it's called a febrile seizure. Here are some facts for parents on febrile seizures, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• While febrile seizures can be very frightening to watch, they are rarely harmful to children.
• Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, and will not cause your child to swallow his or her tongue.
• Febrile seizures -- even repeated ones -- do not mean your child has epilepsy.
• These seizures typically last only a few minutes (rarely more than 10) and will subside on their own. Contact your doctor if the seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes.
• If your child has had one febrile seizure, the chances of her having another one are between 25 percent and 30 percent. Most children do not have multiple febrile seizures.
• Your child should be checked by your family doctor after a seizure to be sure that a fever was the only cause.