“What about a seizure that lasts more than twenty minutes? Will it recur?”

Only one in ten febrile seizures lasts more than twenty minutes, and most of those prolonged seizures are the initial seizure only. A child who has had a prolonged first febrile seizure is no more likely to have a prolonged second seizure than if the first seizure were short.

“Can’t these seizures be prevented?”

Certain medications can markedly decrease the chance of another febrile seizure, but there are risks as well as benefits. You will have to weigh the risks of the medicine and the benefits of avoiding another febrile seizure against the risks of having another seizure.

Phenobarbital is the most effective medication for preventing recurrence of febrile seizures, although ineffective when the child already has the fever. If it is given on a daily basis in sufficient quantities, there will be a marked decrease in the chance of another seizure. The amount of phenobarbital in the blood should be checked periodically to be sure that there is enough.

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