About Febrile Seizures in Childhood

Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen when a young child has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). While the fever may continue for some time, the seizures usually last for a few minutes and stop on their own. Febrile seizures are the most common seizures of childhood, occurring in 2 to 5 percent of children six months to five years of age.

Approximately one in every 25 children will have at least one febrile seizure, and more than one-third of these children will have additional febrile seizures before they outgrow the tendency to have them. There is a 15 to 70 percent risk of recurrence in the first two years after an initial febrile seizure.

Febrile seizures usually occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and are particularly common in toddlers. During a seizure, there is a small chance that the child may be injured by falling or may choke from food or saliva in the mouth. Never place anything in the child's mouth during a convulsion. Objects placed in the mouth can be broken and obstruct the child's airway.