Seizures and Fever Treatment

Self-Care at Home

These aspects of home care need to be considered:

• Care of the child during the seizure: During a seizure, only a limited amount of intervention should be undertaken. The main objective is to protect the child’s airway so that breathing is maintained. Protection from other injury is important.
  
  
  • Remove objects, such as food and pacifiers, from the mouth.
    
    
  • Place the child on his or her side or abdomen.
    
    
  • Clear the mouth with a suction bulb (if available) if there is vomiting.
    
    
  • Perform a jaw thrust or chin lift maneuver if there is noisy or labored breathing.
    
    
  • Do not try to restrain the child or try to stop seizure movements.
    
    
  • Do not force anything into the child's mouth. Don't try to hold the tongue. (It is not necessary to try to prevent the tongue from being swallowed.)
  
  
• Control of the fever: Because the seizure is being caused by fever, measures should be taken to lower the body temperature.
  
  
  • Remove clothing.
    
    
  • Apply cool washcloths to the face and neck.
    
    
  • Sponge the rest of the body with cool water (do not immerse a seizing child in the bathtub).
    
    
  • Give medication to lower the fever (acetaminophen suppositories in the rectum, if available). Oral medications should not be given until the child is awake.
  
  
• Consider the cause of the fever: This is probably best left up to the doctor's medical evaluation.