When Seizures Strike: A Parent’s Essential Guide

Seeing a child or young person have a seizure can be very upsetting. However, most seizures don’t cause serious harm.

This leaflet is for parents and carers whose child or young person has had their first seizure, which was not a ‘febrile convulsion’ (a seizure caused by a fever).

A seizure is a sudden disruption in the brain’s activity that changes how a person looks or behaves. Seizures—and how a child recovers afterwards—can differ widely.

Seizures are sometimes called fits, convulsions, attacks, or episodes. For some children, they’re very obvious, while for others they might involve something as subtle as staring blankly.

One type of seizure is an epileptic seizure, but not all seizures are caused by epilepsy. Events like fainting, tics, daydreaming, sleep disorders, or breath-holding episodes can sometimes look similar to seizures.

A single seizure doesn’t necessarily mean your child has epilepsy. Many children will never have another one. However, if they have more seizures, a paediatrician will need to assess them to confirm if it’s epilepsy and create a care plan.

A convulsive seizure is when the child becomes stiff or shakes. Here’s how to help:

• Stay calm.
• Protect them from injury by moving harmful objects away.
• Cushion or gently hold their head to prevent head injury.
• Note the time the seizure starts. If it lasts 5 minutes or more, call 999.
• Turn them onto their side (the recovery position) as soon as you can. This helps with breathing and clears their mouth if there’s vomit or saliva. A change in colour or noisy breathing is common.
• If possible, film the seizure on your phone. Try to capture their whole body and describe aloud what’s happening and how they respond to you. This can help doctors understand the type of seizure.
• Stay with your child until they’ve fully recovered.
• After the seizure, they may be drowsy, confused, or want to sleep. Reassure them and stay nearby until they’re back to normal.

• Don’t restrain their movements.
• Don’t move them unless they’re in danger.
• Don’t put anything in their mouth.
• Don’t offer food or drink until they’re fully recovered.

• You’re worried or unsure what to do.
• Your child needs medical help for any reason.
• The seizure lasts 5 minutes or more.
• One seizure follows another without recovery in between.
• Your child is injured, or you’re concerned about their breathing.

Your child should continue their normal activities, like school, nursery, and hobbies. However, take extra care with certain activities until they’ve been assessed:

• Bathing: Showers are safer than baths, but if they do have a bath, supervise them closely.
• Climbing: Avoid climbing higher than their own height unless supervised and wearing a harness.
• Cycling: They can ride bikes or scooters, but make sure they wear a helmet and consider if supervision is needed.
• Swimming: They can still swim or do water sports, but they must always be supervised.
• Driving: Older teenagers with a driving licence must stop driving and inform the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland). Visit www.gov.uk/epilepsy-and-driving for more advice.

Let your child’s school, family, and close friends know about the seizure. Sharing this first aid advice can help them keep your child safe.

Your child will usually have an assessment with a specialist such as a paediatrician or neurologist. This may involve:

• A heart rhythm test (ECG).
• A brain activity test (EEG).
• A brain scan or blood tests.

Your healthcare team may also provide contact details for helplines, local support groups, or online forums. If epilepsy is confirmed, organisations like Young Epilepsy and Epilepsy Action can offer additional support.

If your child has another seizure, try to film it on your phone. Although it might feel uncomfortable to do so, a video can provide invaluable information for your child’s doctor.

• Capture their whole body in the video.
• Describe aloud what’s happening and how they respond to you.

Make notes about the seizure to share with your doctor, including:

Before the seizure:

• What was your child doing?
• Did they feel or mention anything unusual (e.g. odd smell, taste, or feeling)?
• Did they have a fever or seem unwell?

During the seizure:

• What did you notice (e.g. staring, lip-smacking, head turning, twitching)?
• Was there any colour change (e.g. pale, flushed, or blue)?
• Which parts of the body were affected?
• Did they make any sounds or wet/soil themselves?
• How long did it last?

After the seizure:

• Were they drowsy or confused? Did they fall asleep? If so, for how long?
• How long did it take for them to return to their normal self?

By understanding and preparing, you can help keep your child safe and supported as they navigate this experience.

Reference:

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/safety-netting-information-following-first-seizure-without-fever-children-young-people