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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
Moving a child into the recovery position:
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
Please ring 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.
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
Febrile convulsions occurs in some children with a high temperature (fever). Although it can be extremely scary the first time you see your child have one, most of the time they are not serious. Most occur with common illnesses such as ear infections, colds and other viral infections. Full recovery with no permanent damage is usual. The main treatment is aimed at the illness that caused the fever.
● They occur in about 1 in 20 children, most commonly between 6 months and 6 years of age
● They often occur on the first day of an illness associated with fever. There appears to be no connection between how high a child’s fever is and whether they have a fit. They can occur even with mild fevers
● Most children will not have another fit during the same illness
● 1 in 3 children who have a febrile convulsion may go on to have further febrile convulsions in the future. This is more likely if other members of the family have had febrile convulsions.
● Febrile convulsions are not epilepsy. Regular treatment for prevention of future fits is usually not necessary. There is a small risk of your child developing epilepsy in the future and many parents worry about this, however, most children who have childhood simple febrile convulsions grow out of them and do not develop epilepsy
● If your child has had a previous febrile convulsion, has a clear cause for their fever, their seizure stops quickly and they are back to normal soon after, they may be cared for at home. The first time your child has a fit, you should go to your local Emergency Department or call an ambulance
● Once they have been examined, if a cause is found and your child is well, it may be appropriate that they are discharged to continue recovering at home
When the fit stops, you can give them Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. However, this might not stop them having another one. Always follow instructions on the container and do not exceed daily maximum doses
For more information on fever please see our page here.
In most cases, children with simple febrile convulsions appear dazed and their eyes may roll back
Their bodies may go stiff, their arms and legs may twitch or shake and they will become unresponsive for a few seconds. It is unusual for the febrile convulsion to last for more than 5 minutes
Your child may be sleepy for a few minutes afterwards
If your child has had only one afebrile fit, it does not always mean they have epilepsy. Some children will never have another one.
Children can have events that look very similar to a seizure, but they are not; these include faints, tics, daydreams, sleep disorders and breath-holding attacks. However, if your child has more than one fit, they will need to investigate for possible epilepsy.
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.
You have a choice of service:
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.