Outlook

The prognosis for children with seizures depends on the type of seizures. Most children do well, are able to attend regular school, and have no limitations. The exceptions occur with children who have other developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and in children with neonatal seizures and infantile spasms. It is important to talk with your child's doctor about what to expect with your child.

• Many children "outgrow" seizures as their brains mature. If several years pass without any seizures, doctors often stop the child's medications and see if the child has outgrown the seizures.
  
  
• A seizure in general is not harmful unless an injury occurs or status epilepticus develops. Children who develop status epilepticus have a 3-5% risk of dying from the prolonged seizure.
  
  
• Children with febrile seizures "outgrow" them, but they often have repeated seizures when they develop fevers while they are young. Some children with febrile seizures go on to have epilepsy, but most doctors believe the epilepsy was not caused by the febrile seizures.