US Medical Term · maternity
Febrile Seizure
Convulsión febril
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Febrile Seizure |
| Spanish (Español) | Convulsión febril |
| Chinese (中文) | 熱性痙攣 |
| Korean (한국어) | 열성 경련 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Co giật do sốt |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Febrile seizure |
| Portuguese (Português) | Convulsão febril |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชักจากไข้ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 熱性けいれん |
What it means
A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a young child triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature (fever), most commonly between ages 6 months and 5 years. The child's body may shake or jerk uncontrollably for 1 to 3 minutes. Although terrifying to witness, simple febrile seizures are generally harmless and do not cause brain damage or epilepsy. Do not restrain the child; lay them on their side, clear the area, and time the seizure. Call 911 if it lasts more than 5 minutes. Take your child to the doctor after the episode to find the cause of the fever.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My toddler had a febrile seizure — does this mean they have epilepsy?
Mi niño tuvo una convulsión febril — ¿eso significa que tiene epilepsia?
How should I respond if my child has another febrile seizure at home?
¿Cómo debo responder si mi hijo tiene otra convulsión febril en casa?
Does having one febrile seizure increase the risk of more in the future?
¿Tener una convulsión febril aumenta el riesgo de tener más en el futuro?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R56 Convulsions, not elsewhere classifiedRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026