• 1 week ago

Seizures and Emergency Response in Children

What Is a Seizure in Children?

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain. This may cause loss of consciousness, muscle stiffness or jerking, eye-rolling, and irregular breathing. In children, seizures are most often caused by fever (febrile seizures) or underlying conditions such as epilepsy, infections, or metabolic imbalances.

Though witnessing a seizure is alarming, most are brief and do not cause permanent harm—especially in the case of febrile seizures, which are common in toddlers and often resolve on their own.

 

Types of Seizures in Children

1. Febrile Seizures (Fever-Related)

  • Occur in children aged 6 months to 5 years
  • Triggered by a sudden spike in fever, often from a viral illness
  • Typically last less than 5 minutes
  • The child may stiffen, twitch, roll their eyes, and become unresponsive
  • Post-seizure drowsiness is common
  • Usually harmless and do not lead to epilepsy

2. Non-Febrile Seizures

  • Not linked to fever
  • May be due to epilepsy, trauma, brain infections, or metabolic issues
  • Often recurrent and require further evaluation
  • Diagnosed with EEG, MRI, and blood tests
  • May require long-term treatment with anti-seizure medications

How to Recognize a Seizure

Signs of a seizure may include:

  • Sudden loss of consciousness
  • Whole-body shaking or stiffness
  • Eye rolling or fixed gaze
  • Blue lips or pale skin
  • Irregular breathing or brief pauses
  • Frothing at the mouth or clenching of the jaw
  • Post-seizure confusion, sleepiness, or weakness (postictal phase)

Most seizures resolve within 1–5 minutes. Longer seizures or repeated episodes need urgent evaluation.

What to Do During a Seizure

✅ DO:

  • Lay the child on a flat, safe surface
  • Turn them on their side to prevent choking if they vomit
  • Loosen clothing around the neck
  • Remove objects from around the child
  • Stay calm and time the seizure
  • Call emergency services (e.g., 112) if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes

❌ DO NOT:

  • Try to stop the shaking or hold the child down
  • Put anything in their mouth
  • Attempt to give food, drink, or medication during the seizure
  • Shake, slap, or apply cold water in panic

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Seek immediate medical help if:

  • The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
  • This is the first seizure your child has ever had
  • The child doesn’t wake up or return to normal behavior after the seizure
  • Breathing is shallow or absent
  • The child has another seizure within 24 hours
  • The seizure occurred without fever
  • There are signs of head injury, vomiting, stiff neck, or rash

What Is a Febrile Seizure?

A febrile seizure is the most common type of seizure in toddlers. It happens during a rapid rise in body temperature—not necessarily at the highest point of fever. While scary, most febrile seizures:

  • Are brief (less than 5 minutes)
  • Do not cause brain damage
  • Do not lead to learning or developmental issues
  • Do not necessarily mean the child has epilepsy

Still, medical evaluation is important to rule out more serious conditions like meningitis or epilepsy.

How Dr. Ekin Pasinlioğlu Manages Seizures and Emergencies

  • Full assessment after any seizure episode
  • Differentiation between febrile and non-febrile causes
  • Ordering EEG, brain imaging, or blood tests as needed
  • Developing personalized fever management plans for children with seizure history
  • Coordinating with pediatric neurology when needed
  • Educating families on seizure response and prevention strategies