Seizures in children: What parents should know

Having children comes with a unique new set of worries. As a parent, you want to make sure that your kids are healthy and happy at all times, but it isn’t always possible.

Seizures are an unforeseeable medical event which can be incredibly scary for all involved. There are several reasons why your child may have a seizure, so you must seek medical advice to try and find the cause.

Seizures common in children

Febrile seizures are one type of medical episode in children which can occur when they are unwell and have a high temperature. They usually happen to children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. Febrile seizures usually last between 2 and 3 minutes, but no longer than 10 minutes.

Another type of seizure is absence seizures which are associated with epilepsy. This type of seizure can be harder to spot as it may not include fitting like with a febrile seizure. Instead, sufferers may appear to be daydreaming or staring into space.

The difference in these two seizure types highlights how broad the diagnosis of seizures is, so it is important to keep in contact with your medical professionals once you are on the diagnosis pathway.

Recognising symptoms and seeking medical help

When you think of a seizure you may picture someone lying on the floor, shaking and fitting. Febrile seizures tend to present like this along with the child becoming unresponsive and even unconscious.

As mentioned, absence seizures can be a lot more subtle, with children appearing to be daydreaming or staring into space. Sometimes absence seizures can come with body shakes, but they are smaller movements. Eye flutters can occur too.

If your child is experiencing their first seizure or if it lasts for more than 5 minutes, call 999 immediately. Monitor their breathing and call for help if they are struggling. While the seizure is going on, keep them where they are but move any hazards away from them. Wait for it to be over and then place them in the recovery position.

Diagnosis and treatment

Seizures can sometimes be an indicator of a larger medical issue. If your child has experienced their first seizure, they may need to have some tests such as blood tests, urine analysis and possibly a lumbar puncture.

If it is determined that it is likely that epilepsy is a factor, then you will need to go down the treatment pathway which is likely to be anti-epilepsy medication. In some rare cases, surgery may be required to either place an implant or remove part of the brain.

Seizures can have serious consequences, so seeking timely treatment is important. If you experience significant delays or oversights concerning your child’s treatment or diagnosis, you may want to consult a medical negligence specialist for support.