Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş- June 18, 2026
- 2 min read
- Neurology
- — reads
A seizure is an episode of stiffening, staring or altered consciousness caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In children, the most common type is the febrile seizure (febrile convulsion) triggered by fever between 6 months and 6 years of age — we covered this topic in detail in a separate article. Here we focus on general first aid and non-febrile seizures.
What You SHOULD Do During a Seizure
- Stay calm and time it — the duration of the seizure is critical information for the doctor
- Move the child to the floor, to a safe area; place something soft under the head
- Lay the child on their side — this prevents saliva and vomit from entering the airway
- Move away any hard or sharp objects nearby
- If possible, record a video on your phone (this is very valuable for diagnosis)
What You SHOULD NOT Do During a Seizure
- Never put anything in the mouth (spoon, finger, water, cologne) — there is no such thing as "swallowing the tongue"; the real danger is objects placed in the mouth
- Do not shake the child or try to hold or stop them
- Do not use traditional practices such as making the child smell onions
Non-Febrile Seizures and Epilepsy
Recurrent seizures occurring without fever raise the suspicion of epilepsy. A single non-febrile seizure does not establish a diagnosis of epilepsy; evaluation is based on the medical history, physical examination and EEG. Absence seizures (staring spells) are sometimes missed and mistaken for "inattention": brief, few-second episodes of blank staring that occur many times a day can affect school performance and should be evaluated.
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Related articles: Febrile seizure · Fainting · Meningitis
This article is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. For any concerns about your child's health, always consult a specialist in pediatric health and diseases.
Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş — Specialist in Pediatric Health and Diseases, Gaziantep
Frequently Asked Questions
Short seizures do not cause brain damage; what matters is identifying the underlying cause and providing appropriate follow-up.
No; many childhood epilepsies improve with age, and the medications are gradually discontinued under a doctor's supervision.
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