At first, I brushed off my son’s occasional shaking when he had a fever. It usually happened as he was dozing off and I figured it was just a sleepy twitch amplified by his illness. But then one fateful night, when he was around 3 years old, things took a wild turn. He sat up in bed, eyes vacant, jerking uncontrollably, teeth clattering. I tried to engage him, but he seemed completely out of it.
I have no clue how long it lasted—maybe just a few minutes—but it felt like forever. I called my partner, Mark, to come see what was happening. He could tell I was losing it; I’m not great at hiding my panic. “I think it’s just the fever. He’ll be okay,” he reassured me.
And, as it turned out, he was right. Just as suddenly as it started, the episode ended, and my son drifted into a deep, feverish slumber. We immediately called the doctor, and a nurse calmly asked me a series of questions about his symptoms. I was baffled by her calmness while I was freaking out, desperately needing confirmation that my child wasn’t in danger.
“Sounds like a febrile seizure due to a virus,” she explained. “Nothing to worry about. Bring him in when he wakes up.” While I appreciated her nonchalance, I still wasn’t comforted. I kept vigil by my son’s side as he lay there, sweaty and whimpering, but thankfully, he wasn’t seizing anymore.
When we finally saw the doctor, the diagnosis was—surprise—a virus. Just a nasty cold, not even the flu. The doctor reassured us that febrile seizures occur in sick kids, are quite common, and have no lasting effects. Dr. Google echoed this sentiment (because, of course, we parents can’t resist a good Google session). According to Healthy Children, the AAP’s info hub, febrile seizures affect about 3 to 4 out of every 100 kids, often run in families, and typically occur in kids aged 6 months to 5 years.
They’re clear: “While febrile seizures may be very scary, they are harmless to the child. They do not cause brain damage, nervous system issues, or anything else that sounds terrifying.” I started to feel a bit better after hearing all this—until the next episode.
Let’s be real: no matter how benign these seizures might be, they are downright terrifying. My son had a few more over the years, and each time I panicked like it was the first. Watching your child’s limbs jerk, drool spilling from their mouth, and eyes rolling back is pure horror. Thank goodness he eventually outgrew them, just like the doctors predicted. But, of course, I had another son, who also experienced febrile seizures, and yes, I freaked out all over again.
Essentially, febrile seizures can take a hike. I know, in the grand scheme of things, we should be grateful that our healthy kids are facing this as one of the biggest challenges we’ve had to deal with. I get that. But I still despise them, and if you’re a parent who has witnessed a febrile seizure, I’m right there with you. It’s completely valid to feel traumatized. No parent can just shrug and brush off something so alarming.
And for those parents or soon-to-be parents who haven’t heard of this phenomenon, I hope you never have to witness one. But it’s a good idea to be informed. I sure could have used some knowledge the first time I saw it unfold, though I’m certain I would have panicked just as much anyway—because that’s just how we moms roll sometimes, right?
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Summary
Febrile seizures, while common in young children, can be incredibly frightening for parents. Despite their harmless nature, witnessing a child go through one of these episodes can leave parents feeling panicked and traumatized. Understanding what febrile seizures are and knowing they are usually a result of fever can help ease some fears, but it’s still a harrowing experience for any parent.