At first, I didn’t think much about my daughter’s occasional trembling when she had a fever. It typically happened as she was drifting off to sleep, so I figured it was just one of those little twitches we all experience. But then came the day when she was around 3 years old, battling one of those common colds that seemed to be going around. Suddenly, she sat up in bed, her eyes vacant, her body shaking uncontrollably, and her teeth chattering. I tried calling her name, but she appeared completely unresponsive.
I couldn’t tell how long it lasted, but it felt like an eternity. I called my partner into the room, panic rising within me. “What’s happening?” I asked, my voice trembling. He could see my distress and calmly reassured me, “It’s probably just because she’s sick. She’ll be fine.” Thankfully, he was right. Just as abruptly as it began, the episode ended, and she fell back into a deep, feverish sleep.
We wasted no time and contacted the pediatrician. I spoke with a nurse who went through a list of questions: Had she been sick? What were her symptoms? Did she have a fever yesterday or today? I was baffled by her calm demeanor during a moment of sheer terror. “It sounds like she had a febrile seizure due to a virus,” she concluded. “There’s nothing to worry about. Bring her in when she wakes up.” While I appreciated the reassurance, I couldn’t shake off the unease.
When we visited the doctor, the diagnosis was — surprise! — a virus. Just a bad cold, nothing serious. The doctor reassured us that febrile seizures are common, especially in kids between 6 months and 5 years old, and that they rarely have lasting effects. According to Healthy Children, the official site of the Academy of American Pediatrics, these seizures occur in about 3 to 4 out of every 100 kids and usually run in families. Importantly, they emphasize that febrile seizures are not dangerous: “While febrile seizures may be very scary, they are harmless to the child,” they state. “They do not cause brain damage, nervous system problems, paralysis, intellectual disability, or death.”
After receiving this information from healthcare professionals and doing my own research, I started to feel more at ease. However, it took a few days for that initial panic to subside. Rationalizing it after the fact is one thing; living through it is another entirely.
Let’s be honest: Even if these seizures are harmless, they are utterly terrifying. My daughter experienced a few more during her early years, and despite knowing they were benign, I panicked every single time. Watching your child’s limbs jerk uncontrollably, drool spilling from their mouth, and eyes rolling back is a scene out of a horror film.
Thankfully, she eventually outgrew them, just as everyone said she would. Yet, I later had another child, who also experienced a few febrile seizures. And yes, I panicked each time, even though I was well aware of what was happening.
In the grand scheme of things, we parents with healthy children have much to be grateful for. I understand that. But let’s be real: febrile seizures can be a nightmare. If you’re a parent who’s witnessed this, you’re not alone in feeling traumatized by the experience. It’s a challenge to stay composed in situations like this.
For those who aren’t familiar with febrile seizures, consider yourself fortunate, but knowing about them now is probably a good idea. It would’ve been a relief to understand what was happening the first time I witnessed one, but I have no doubt I would’ve still freaked out anyway — it’s just part of being a parent, right?
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Summary:
Febrile seizures can be frightening experiences for parents, often occurring when children have fevers. Although they are common and generally harmless, witnessing such an event can be terrifying. Parents should understand that these seizures are not dangerous and that most children outgrow them. Awareness and education can help alleviate some fears surrounding febrile seizures.