Seizures in Children: What Parents Should Know and Do

If your child has a seizure, keep them safe, lay them on their side if you can, time the episode, and do not put anything in their mouth. Call 911 if the seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer, happens in water, your child has trouble breathing, or it is their first seizure and they are not recovering as expected.

Seeing your child have a seizure can be scary, but many seizures in children are brief and do not cause lasting harm. This guide explains common seizure signs, possible causes, what to do during a seizure, when to get emergency help, and when to follow up with our pediatric team.

What Is a Seizure?

A seizure is a sudden change in the brain’s electrical activity that can affect a child’s movements, awareness, behavior, or senses for a short time. Some seizures cause full-body stiffening and shaking, while others may look like staring, confusion, lip smacking, sudden limpness, or brief jerking movements.

After a seizure, a child may be sleepy, confused, emotional, or complain of a headache. Even if the seizure stops quickly, parents should let a pediatrician know, especially if it is the first time it has happened.

How Common Are Seizures in Children?

Seizures are more common in children than many parents realize, and one seizure does not always mean a child has epilepsy.

• Any childhood seizure: About 3% to 5% of children have at least one seizure.
• Febrile seizures: About 2% to 5% of children ages 6 months to 5 years have a seizure with a fever.
• Epilepsy: About 1% of children have epilepsy, which means repeated unprovoked seizures.

Some children never have another seizure. Others may need testing, treatment, or referral to a specialist depending on their age, symptoms, and medical history.

Common Types of Seizures in Kids

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain from the start. Common types include:

• Tonic-clonic seizures: These may cause loss of consciousness, body stiffening, rhythmic shaking, drooling, or loss of bladder control. Children are often tired or confused afterward.
• Absence seizures: These are brief staring spells that may last only a few seconds. A child may pause, blink, or stare and then quickly return to normal.
• Atonic seizures: These cause a sudden loss of muscle tone, so a child may slump, drop their head, or fall.
• Myoclonic seizures: These cause quick, brief jerks, often in the arms or shoulders.

Focal Seizures

Focal seizures begin in one area of the brain, so the symptoms depend on where they start.

• Focal aware seizures: A child stays awake but may report unusual feelings, tingling, odd smells, flashing lights, or twitching in one body part.
• Focal impaired awareness seizures: A child may stare, seem confused, make repetitive movements, or not respond normally.

If you can safely record a video of the event, it can be helpful for the Omega Pediatrics team or a specialist reviewing what happened.

Why Do Children Have Seizures?

Children can have seizures for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a clear trigger, and sometimes no exact cause is found.

• Fever: Febrile seizures are the most common seizure type in young children.
• Genetics: Some seizure disorders run in families.
• Infections: Serious infections such as meningitis or encephalitis can cause seizures and need urgent care.
• Head injury: A blow to the head can trigger a seizure.
• Low blood sugar or electrolyte problems: Changes in body chemistry can sometimes lead to seizures.
• Sleep loss or missed seizure medicine: These can trigger seizures in children who already have epilepsy.
• Brain differences: Some children have structural brain differences that raise seizure risk.

Because the causes vary, it is important not to guess what caused the seizure without medical guidance.

What to Do If Your Child Has a Seizure

Your job during a seizure is to keep your child safe and watch what happens.

1. Move dangerous objects away. Clear furniture or sharp items nearby.
2. Lay your child on their side if possible. This can help keep the airway clear.
3. Time the seizure. Use your phone or a clock.
4. Do not put anything in your child’s mouth. This can cause choking or injury.
5. Do not hold your child down. Let the seizure run its course while protecting them from harm.
6. Loosen tight clothing around the neck.
7. Stay with your child afterward. They may be sleepy or confused and need comfort.

Afterward, write down what you saw, including how long it lasted, whether there was a fever, what body parts moved, whether your child responded, and how they acted after the seizure. These details can help our pediatric team decide what to do next.

When to Call 911 for a Child’s Seizure

Call 911 right away if:

• The seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer.
• Your child has another seizure before fully recovering from the first one.
• Your child has trouble breathing, turns blue or gray, or does not wake up as expected afterward.
• The seizure happens in water.
• Your child is injured during the seizure.
• This is your child’s first seizure and they are not returning to normal.
• Your child is an infant, or you are worried something more serious is going on.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

Call your pediatrician after any first seizure, even if your child seems back to normal. You should also call if your child has a fever-related seizure, has a known seizure disorder with a change in symptoms, or has repeated staring spells or unusual episodes that could be seizures.

At Omega Pediatrics, we can help review what happened, decide whether your child needs testing or specialist referral, and talk through what to do if it happens again.

How Seizures Are Diagnosed and Treated

Diagnosis starts with a careful history and exam. The most helpful information often comes from a parent or caregiver who saw the event.

Depending on your child’s symptoms, age, and medical history, evaluation may include:

• A physical and neurologic exam
• Blood sugar or other lab tests
• An EEG to look at brain wave patterns
• Brain imaging in some cases
• Referral to a pediatric neurologist

Treatment depends on the cause. A child with a febrile seizure may not need daily medicine, while a child with epilepsy may need anti-seizure medication and a seizure action plan. The goal is to keep your child safe and reduce the chance of future seizures.

Reassurance for Parents

Many children who have a seizure do well, especially when families know basic seizure first aid and when to seek help. If your child has had a seizure or you are worried about unusual staring spells, shaking, or fainting-like episodes, contact Omega Pediatrics for guidance and follow-up care.