Your child had a seizure. What now?
What febrile, absence, and convulsive seizures actually look like at different ages, and when to call 911.
What the spell looked like matters more than the label
Watching your child have a seizure is one of the most frightening things a parent can witness. It helps to know what you may have seen: a convulsive seizure involves stiffening or rhythmic shaking; an absence seizure, common in children roughly ages 4 to 10, looks like a brief staring spell where your child doesn't respond; a febrile seizure happens with a fever, most often between 6 months and 5 years, and is usually brief and benign even though it looks terrifying.
Call 911 if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if another starts before your child recovers, if breathing doesn't return to normal, or if it's a first seizure with injury or trouble waking. For a first brief seizure that stops on its own, your child still needs prompt medical evaluation, same day or next, even if they seem fine afterward. During the event, lay your child on their side, don't put anything in their mouth, and time it if you can.
A single febrile seizure often needs no further workup, but recurring, unprovoked, or atypical events deserve a neurologist's eye. Dr. Sedgh trained in both pediatrics and neurology and evaluates seizures from infancy through age 18. If your child has had a spell, diagnosed or not, you can request an in-person evaluation.
What to notice during a spell
You will not remember every detail, and you do not have to. If you can, lay your child on their side, put nothing in their mouth, and time the spell.
- Did the body stiffen or jerk, or did your child simply stop and stare?
- About how long did it last?
- Was there a fever?
- How long until they were back to themselves?
Call 911 if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if another starts before your child recovers, if breathing does not return to normal, or if this is a first seizure with injury or trouble waking. A first brief spell that stops still needs a same-day or next-day medical look, even if your child seems fine.
Details that change the meaning
The look of the spell
Stiffening, rhythmic shaking, or a brief unresponsive stare are different descriptions. A video is welcome.
How long it lasted
A timed spell is more useful than a guess. More than five minutes, or a second spell before recovery, is an emergency.
Fever or none
A spell with fever in a young child is a different question from a spell with no fever at all.
First event or many
One brief febrile seizure often needs no further workup. Repeated or unprovoked spells need a closer look.
What to expect.
Safety first
Side, nothing in the mouth, time it, and call 911 for the emergencies listed above.
Same-day medical care
A first spell still needs prompt evaluation even when it stops and your child wakes.
Neurology when the pattern asks for it
Recurring, unprovoked, or unusual spells are reviewed in person, from infancy through age 18.
One spell is not the same as epilepsy
A febrile seizure, most often between 6 months and 5 years, can look violent and still be brief. An absence spell, often noticed in children about 4 to 10, looks like a short stare with no response. A convulsive seizure is stiffening or rhythmic shaking. Those are descriptions, not a diagnosis.
Recurring spells without a fever, or a spell that does not fit the usual pattern, are the ones that need a neurologist. Dr. Sedgh evaluates seizures from infancy through age 18. Read what to do for a febrile seizure or how absence spells differ from daydreaming. This page does not list medicines or doses.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to the visit?
The most useful thing you can bring is a description, or a phone video, of exactly what the spell looked like, since seizures are rarely witnessed in the office. Dr. Sedgh will sort out whether it was a seizure, what type it resembled, and whether testing like an EEG is warranted. Not every seizure means epilepsy, and he'll be honest with you about what's still uncertain.
What will testing cost?
Cost depends on your insurance and on whether testing such as an EEG is recommended. We don't publish medication doses or fixed prices on patient pages; the practice can walk you through expected costs when you request a visit.
Can this be sorted out in one visit?
An initial evaluation usually happens in one visit, though diagnosing epilepsy, as opposed to explaining a single event, sometimes requires observation over time or follow-up testing. If your child is having active events, tell the practice when you request the visit so timing reflects the urgency.
When do I call 911?
Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, if another starts before your child recovers, if breathing does not come back to normal, or if a first seizure comes with injury or trouble waking.
Does one seizure mean epilepsy?
No. A single febrile seizure is often brief and does not become a diagnosis of epilepsy. Repeated spells, spells without fever, or an unusual pattern are the reasons to see a neurologist.