Recurrent Seizure (Child)

Home care

Follow these tips when caring for your child at home. For this seizure:

• Seizures often aren’t predictable. Assume that a seizure could happen when you least expect it. Until the seizures are under good control, follow these steps:

  • Don't leave your child alone in a bathtub. If your child is old enough, use a shower instead.

  • Don't let your child swim, bike, or climb alone.

  • Keep your child away from situations in which a seizure could cause serious injury. These include being at the top of the stairs or handling sharp objects.

• If medicine was prescribed to prevent seizures, give it exactly as directed. It doesn't work when taken "as needed." Missing doses will increase the risk of having another seizure.

• If your child misses a medicine dose, give them the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Restart the medicine at the next scheduled time. Don’t give your child extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

• You may need to change things in your home to make it safer in case of a seizure. Things such as glass doors or tables could pose risk of serious injury. Look at ways to have your child stay away from these things.

For future seizures:

• If a seizure occurs again, turn your child onto their side. This will let any saliva or vomit drain out of the mouth and not into the lungs. Protect your child from injury. Don’t try to force anything into your child’s mouth.

• Almost all seizures stop within 5 minutes. If your child is having a seizure that lasts longer than that, call 911. Also, call 911 if your child doesn't wake up between seizures, or is still confused more than 30 minutes after a seizure.

• Your child's healthcare provider may prescribe a rescue medicine. This is to be used as needed for future seizures that don't stop on their own. Talk to the provider and make sure you understand how and when to use such rescue medicines.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child's provider, or as advised. Keep a seizure calendar to record how often your child has a seizure. If your child is a teen being started on anti-seizure medicine and is old enough to get pregnant, make sure that they use additional birth control. Seizure medicine can affect how well birth control pills work, and they could become pregnant. Your child should also not have alcohol. If your child is a teen, talk to their provider about when they may start driving. Your child will need to be seizure-free for a certain amount of time in order to legally drive.

When to get medical care

Call your child's healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

• Seizures happen more often or last longer than normal

• A seizure lasts more than 5 minutes

• Your child doesn’t wake up between seizures

• Fever (causing febrile seizures

• Abnormal fussiness, drowsiness, or confusion

• Stiff or painful neck

• Headache that gets worse

• New rash

• Your child is hurt during a seizure