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AIBU?

Scared.... can't find an appropriate thread....febrile seizures

33 replies

Greensky91 · 20/02/2017 22:05

I don't know which thread this should go in.... but my son (17 month) took a febrile seizure 2 days ago, I've not slept and not let him out of my sight since because I'm petrified it will happen again, has anyone else's kids took these fits? Please reassure me

TIA XX

OP posts:

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GinIsIn · 20/02/2017 22:08

Try not to panic - they may be scary but they are really quite common - up to 10% of children have one. Just because your child has had one once doesn't mean they will have another - again, in most children it's just a one-off.

Hobbes8 · 20/02/2017 22:11

Yes my daughter had these at about the same age. She had 3 in total, all after very sudden spikes in temperature. I got better at seeing the signs and managing her temperature down - at the first sign of a temp I'd strip her down to her nappy and giver her both calpol and neurofen and she'd be ok.

She's 3 now and hasn't had one for almost 2 years, and her temp never seems to be as high. Hopefully she has grown out of them.

Did she see a doctor at the time? We ended up in a&e and they were very reassuring. The seizures look awful but are not uncommon and usually harmless. Is he still under the weather or is he better now?

elsiemarleysellsthebarley · 20/02/2017 22:16

Don't panic! I'm sure someone with authoritative medical knowledge will be along soon, but until then - my son had 2 of these around the same age. Absolutely terrifying the first time. I think he had an ear infection which caused his high temperature. But he was himself by the next morning, and a couple of hours over night in the hospital for observation. He's not had one for over 2 years now, I think they grow out of them? Since then the calpol comes out as the first sign of raised temperature. and the baby monitor was on nice and loud - the first one I was woken by a hicupping-type sound.

OneLumpOrSeven · 20/02/2017 22:23

That's not true Fenella, if you've had one you're more likely have more. You can't prevent it OP unfortunately, it's thought that it's the rise in temperature that causes it. For some reason the sharp rise in temperature triggers a seizure, which in some children is the body's way of dealing with it, hence why you're likely to have more until they grow out of it.

It's frightening for you unfortunately.

EmeraldIsle86 · 20/02/2017 22:24

Ds1 had one at about 14 months and another at 2. The first was terrifying and extended, he was fitting for over 8 minutes solid and took half an hour to come round - he was conscious but unresponsive and wailing. The second was minor, he convulsed for around 20 seconds then was fine, just a bit upset.

Because the convulsion was so severe the first time, they kept him in for a full day and overnight but were still relatively unconcerned.

I was a mess for days op, so you have my sympathy - it really is teriffying and you're bound to be shaken and on edge. The only thing you can do is keep reminding yourself that it's normal and harmless - the bodies natural response to a temperature spike and nothing more than that. It looks a lot worse than it is. I can remember a Dr saying to me that it looks hellish but that there's never been a case of a child dying from a febrile convulsion (where there are no other issues medically) which did calm me a lot.

Ds1 is now 9 and had no other issues or further convulsions past 2.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 20/02/2017 22:26

My DS had one at the same age. It was scary as hell. Thankfully he never had another but as soon as his temperature started rising, I gave him medicine to bring it down, and stripped him down if necessary. You can out a cool (not cold) flannel on his head as well to bring temperature down.

WhispersOnTheWind · 20/02/2017 22:38

Oh you poor thing, I know how terrifying it is but he'll be fine. He may never have another or at worst he may have just a couple more but they do grow out of them by the time they're about 5. I know how scary it is, DS1 had one around the same age as yours and one more at around 3yrs, both related to sudden fevers caused by minor infections.
The first time it happened I was a hysterical mess, thank goodnessfor a lovely neighbour who was a retired nurse who really helped, first with cooling DS down and then calming me down while we waited for the GP to come.
He explained it as their little body 'thermostats' sometimes just go haywire and can't cope with a sudden onset fever and they just overheat. Again, I was really shaky and on edge for days after the first one just like you but honestly he's going to be fine.

Isadora2007 · 20/02/2017 22:40

It is awful and scary BUT they really are not known to be dangerous and are not like other seizures with the risk of brain damage.
Hopefully that will be a little reassuring but I do know first hand just how horrible it is.

downwardfacingdog · 20/02/2017 22:47

My eldest ds and dd had these every time they had a temp until they grew out of it aged around four. I got used to it in the end and would just take them to the gp each time and as long as they could find a reason (usually ear infection or tonsilitis) we avoided having to go to hospital. Please don't panic. They are quite common and harmless and only one in ten children who has one goes on to have more. www.nhs.uk/conditions/Febrile-convulsions/Pages/Introduction.aspx

mummyofmoomoos · 20/02/2017 22:50

So sorry you are going through this, Febrile seizures- all seizures, are absolutely terrifying. Iv seen my youngest convulse for 52 mins and after an hours post seizure sleep be running about!- so do try not to panic! So many children go through this and come out the other end safe and sound xx can you set up a bed besides his cot? Have thermomiter, juice/water handy, calpol and ibuprofen on hand- set a quiet alarm on your phone for temp checks? Did they say what was causing his high temp? Xx

Nicknacky · 20/02/2017 22:55

My daughter had one age 2. At probably the worst location in the world.....on the Tarmac in St Lucia just about to board a plane to the US! We were a nervous wreck until we could get home and get her to the doctors (went to the hospital in the Carribean but it doesn't fill you with confidence there)!

She hasn't had one since.

Phoenix76 · 20/02/2017 22:56

I'm 40 now but I remember clearly, at a very young age, witnessing my little sister with this. It was terrifying to behold and I remember the doctor making a house call and being not in the least bit concerned. My dsis doesn't remember any of this and fortunately in her case it didn't happen again. Now as a mum myself I can only imagine the horror at seeing this but as pps have said it does seem a rather common, if not alarming, reaction to rise in temperature. My dsis has had absolutely no lasting effects but I bet my poor mum has many!

Bogburglar75 · 20/02/2017 22:58

Poor you. To add to all the replies, yes, my DS had them and they are absolutely terrifying but they don't do any long term harm and kids do grow out of them by the age of 5 or 6.

Has a doctor talked you through why they happen and what to do if he does have another one? That was really helpful for me.

What I was told was that about a third of kids who have one will never have another one. Another third will have two, and the last third will go on having them until they grow out of them at 5 or 6. DS was in the last third ... he had four and a couple of near misses, but he grew out of them and is now a strapping teenager who is hardly ever ill (touch wood).

Take care of yourself and DS, but it will be okay

Aloethere · 20/02/2017 23:00

My son had one when he was about that age. It was terrifying, he went completely limp in my arms. It came out of the blue, he went to bed fine and I woke up with him having convulsions beside me. I felt traumatised long after he was up running about. It never happened again though.

Bogburglar75 · 20/02/2017 23:01

And has somebody explained that febrile convulsions aren't related to epilepsy, and a kid who has them isn't more likely to develop epilepsy later on? I don't think it is actually a 'fit' in the same sense as epilepsy, more like the thermostat going haywire as somebody else mentioned.

bakingcupcakes · 20/02/2017 23:07

My DS had one just before Christmas after a high temperature due to tonsilitus (can't spell). He was 2.4 then. Hasn't had one since. I was at work so my Dad was there and said it was truly one of the worst things he'd witnessed. I had one at 18 months old but my Dad said mine was different/not as bad as my sons. I never had another. I've become much more paranoid when he's ill now. I hope it doesn't happen again.

Want2bSupermum · 20/02/2017 23:12

DS had them. Doctor told me it's worse for me than it is for him. She was right. Took DH months to recover and even today DH will often go check on him in the middle of the night just to make sure. When sick he is always in bed with us. He is almost 4 so not in the grown out of it category.

Zebrasinpyjamas · 20/02/2017 23:14

DS has these with every illness from 12 months to 2. He's now nearly three and had just his first illness without one. His last 8-10 minutes. Loads of children only have one. They are not serious in themselves but the reason for the temperature might require treatment, eg an infection.

. I'm used to them but still find them terrifying. your Dr can teach you what's "normal" eg they should be symmetrical not just involving one side of the body or associated with a high temperature, more than one fit in the same illness needs investigating. similar to pp I give cal pol and ibuprofen as soon as I see DS temperature beginning to rise. A walk outside in the cool air also brings his temperature down.

If a fit happens put your child somewhere save lie the middle of a double bed and wait for it to pass. There's nothing you can do really. Scary times for you as a parent I know. Hopefully you never experience one again!
Also if your child is in daycare, you might need to warn them on the importance of watching his temperature and giving paracetamol if it rises.

MissCalamity · 20/02/2017 23:31

I could have written your post. My DD had her first febrile convulsion aged 19 months, we rang an ambulance as wasn't too sure what was happening. We got took in hospital & stayed over night, she had another one in there which again was horrible to witness. She had tonsillitis. I wasn't in work the next day so with her. The day after when I went in work I was a bit teary & couldn't concentrate so I took holidays so I could stay with her for the next two days.
She has had two since then, thankfully not lasting as long as the first episodes, both again caused by tonsillitis.

We've not had one now for 7 months, she turns 3 in April so I'm hoping that is it now!

I also had them when I was a toddler but my DS, pfb never suffered with them.

Haudyerwheesht · 20/02/2017 23:45

OP neither of my kids have had febrile convulsions but I had a lot of them when I was little and often they'd come one after another etc.

It was horrific but definitely more for my parents and siblings witnessing it than to me. I've never had a fit after I outgrew them and they did no damage, it was just a response to a sudden sharp rise in temperature which I used to get a lot.

gamerwidow · 20/02/2017 23:56

Like the OP above I suffered from febrile convulsions as a child. I have no memory of them or any ill effects caused by them and they stopped long before I started school.
I imagine they are very frightening as a parent but they'll cause no long term harm.

WhiskyIrnBru · 21/02/2017 00:04

My DD had one at 4. Her temp was high 40c. She was later diagnosed with epilepsy but the consultant maintains that was a ferobrile and was just coincidence she has since been diagnosed with epilepsy. They are awful tho. I was paranoid for a long time when she was hot looking. Poor child was stripped to her vest regularly

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Greensky91 · 21/02/2017 07:09

Yeah I called an ambulance, and was confused as to why the operator was so calm because I was so panicked I thought he was dying he was going blue and eyes rolling, n his whole body was limp then we got to hospital and they told it it's very common it's just because his temperature went really high quickly but I'm so paranoid incase it happens in his sleep or something... horrible things!

OP posts:

Whocansay · 21/02/2017 07:13

By the time my eldest DS was 2 he'd had 12 of these. They were utterly terrifying at the time and we ended up knowing our local A&E pretty well, as we always took him to ensure he was OK. They reassured us each time, and he grew out o them. We don't know why he was so prone to them, but he is now a very healthy and happy 8 year old. Please try not to worry.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 21/02/2017 07:20

I had them as a baby. My mother was a midwife, knew what they were, but still panicked. Quite natural! I'm fine, no long-term issues at all.

Remember, the ambulance call takers need to be calm in a storm or they'd never get people to do what was needed in an emergency.

What advice did the doctors give you about what to do next? You need some reassurance that it will be OK.

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