Febrile convulsions are seizures triggered when a young child develops a high temperature, commonly during illness.
Around one in fifty children will have had one by the time they reach the age of five.
Signs and symptoms:
- Lowered level or loss of consciousness, accompanied by fitting
- May become either stiff or floppy
- Eyes may rollback
- Foaming at the mouth or excess saliva
- Might stop breathing
Treatment
- Keep calm, remember that febrile convulsions are quite common
- Do not restrain the casualty
- Cool the casualty by removing their clothing and possibly sponging them with tepid water
- Gently remove any dummies
- Nothing to eat or drink during the convulsion
- Be prepared to use your emergency plan
- Call NHS Direct on 111 for guidance, or dial 999 for an ambulance if the child is not breathing normally, the convulsion lasts longer than 5 minutes, or you are unsure.
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