What are the emergency first-aid measures for febrile seizures in children?
Nov 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
In general, the emergency management of febrile seizures in children mainly includes maintaining airway patency, controlling body temperature, administering anticonvulsant medications, providing environmental care, and seeking timely medical attention. In addition, parents should closely monitor their child's temperature changes in daily life, promptly take measures to reduce fever, and avoid rapid rises in body temperature that may trigger seizures. Children should have adequate rest during the recovery period.
Generally, the emergency management of febrile seizures in children mainly includes maintaining airway patency, controlling body temperature, administering anticonvulsant medications, providing environmental care, and seeking prompt medical attention. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Maintain Airway Patency
Immediately lay the child flat on their back with the head turned to one side. Loosen the collar and waistband, and remove any foreign objects or secretions from the mouth to prevent vomit or saliva from blocking the airway. Gently place a soft towel or gauze-wrapped tongue depressor between the upper and lower teeth to prevent tongue biting during seizure activity. However, avoid forcibly prying open the mouth, which may damage oral mucosa.
2. Control Body Temperature
Elevated body temperature is a primary trigger for seizures, so rapid cooling is essential. Physical cooling methods can be used—wipe the child’s neck, armpits, groin, and other areas rich in blood vessels with lukewarm water to promote heat loss through evaporation. This should be combined with medication as prescribed by a doctor, such as acetaminophen suspension drops, ibuprofen suspension, or Xiao'er Chai Gui Tui Re Granules, to help reduce fever.
3. Administer Anticonvulsant Medications
If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, anticonvulsant drugs should be administered promptly to control symptoms. Commonly used medications include diazepam injection, phenobarbital sodium injection, and midazolam injection. These medications must be used under the guidance of trained medical personnel; self-administration should be avoided to prevent adverse reactions.
4. Environmental Care
Keep the environment quiet and softly lit, avoiding bright lights or loud noises that may stimulate the child. Maintain room temperature between 22°C and 24°C, and humidity between 50% and 60%, to create a comfortable recovery setting. Do not forcefully restrain the child’s limbs during a seizure, as this may cause fractures or joint injuries. Instead, gently hold the child’s body to prevent falls or impact injuries.
5. Seek Prompt Medical Attention
Regardless of seizure duration, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately after initial first aid. When visiting the doctor, provide detailed information about the seizure—including onset time, clinical presentation, body temperature, and medication history—and cooperate with necessary tests such as complete blood count (CBC) and electroencephalogram (EEG), to identify the underlying cause and initiate targeted treatment.
In addition, parents should closely monitor their child's body temperature in daily life. Prompt cooling measures should be taken when fever occurs to prevent sudden spikes in temperature that may trigger seizures. During recovery, ensure the child gets adequate rest, consumes light and easily digestible meals, and increases fluid intake to support recovery. If seizures recur frequently, follow the doctor’s advice for regular follow-up visits to rule out other potential diseases.
