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Fever Seizures - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's symptoms.

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Note:

All temperature guidelines listed in this topic are rectal.
A child has a fever when his or her temperature is 100.4F or higher, measured rectally (a thermometer is inserted into the rectum).
For information about taking accurate temperatures in babies and children, see the topic Body Temperature.
If your child has had a fever seizure in the past and you have talked with your doctor about how to care for your child after a seizure, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and any signs of a serious infection?


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and any breathing problems?


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and pain? See evaluating pain in a child.


	Yes

Do you think your child has an extremely high fever[ or higher]?


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and a new skin problem?


	Yes

Is this your child's first seizure?


	Yes

Has your child had fever seizures in the past and now has had another fever seizure?


	Yes

Does your child have a severe headache, neck pain or stiffness, and fussiness?


	Yes

Is your child very sleepy or hard to wake up?


	Yes

Is your child acting confused or struggling with you for no reason?


	Yes

Does your child have a bulging soft spot on the head when he or she is not crying?


	Yes

Does your child have new swelling in or around a joint?


	Yes

Does your child have severe pain in or around a joint?


	Yes

Does your child have sudden redness or warmth in or around a joint?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is your child grunting, wheezing, or having mild difficulty breathing?


	Yes

Does your child have a barking cough?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your child have moderate to severe pain? See evaluating pain in a child.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your child have a temperature of or higher?


	Yes

Do you think that your child has an extremely high fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and new, tiny purple or red spots (petechiae)?


	Yes

Does your child have many new bruises (purpura) but he or she has not had an injury?


	Yes

Does your child have a fever and a skin infection (cellulitis)?


	Yes

Did your child develop a rash that looks like a sunburn with a fever higher than ?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has your child had a first seizure that does not fall within the guidelines for a fever seizure? A seizure is likely to be fever-related if it meets the following guidelines:The seizure happened within 24 hours of the start of a fever.The seizure lasted less than 3 minutes.The seizure affected the entire body, not just one side of the body.The child is between 6 months and 6 years old.The child does not have nervous system (neurological) problems.The child has had fever seizures before.


	Yes

Has your child had a first seizure that does fall within within the guidelines for a fever seizure?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has your child had a seizure that does not fall within the guidelines for a fever seizure?A seizure is likely to be fever-related if it meets the following guidelines:The seizure happened within 24 hours of the start of a fever.The seizure lasted less than 3 minutes.The seizure affected the entire body, not just one side of the body.The child is between 6 months and 6 years old.The child does not have nervous system (neurological) problems.The child has had fever seizures before.


	Yes

Has your child had another fever seizure that does fall within the guidelines for a fever seizure?Note: If the fever seizure falls within the guidelines for a fever seizure, an appointment may not be necessary. Your doctor will want to know that your child has had a fever seizure and will discuss your child's symptoms and care with you.


	Yes

Has your child had a seizure that is different from past seizures, or is your child now behaving differently than after past seizures?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 21, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.