three-day • Do not place a convulsing child in a tub of water to reduce the child's temperature. Accidents such as scalding and injuries against the sides of the tub have occurred; this practice is not recommended. • If the child cannot bend the neck forward after the convulsions have ended, or if the child has collapsed or is exhausted, report this to your doctor. These may be signs of serious illness. • If a child tends to have convulsions with a fever, sponge the child's body with a damp (lukewarm) sponge at the first sign of fever. MEDICAL TREATMENT Your doctor may give an injection of a medication that controls convulsions-usually phenobarbital or diazepam. The doctor will perform a complete physical examination, including blood tests and a spinal tap. If the febrile convulsion is unusual, or if convulsions occur often, your doctor may order additional studies, such as an electroencephalogram and a computed tomographic (CT) scan. Daily medications to control convulsions are prescribed for several years under some circumstances. RELATED TOPICS: Choking; Convulsions without fever: Encephalitis: Fever; Meningitis Convulsions without fever SYMPTOMS • Unconsciousness • Stiffened body • Jerking or thrashing movements • Muscle spasms • Loss of control of bladder or bowels • Deep sleep after spasms end • Confusion and sleepiness after awakening HOME CARE • Protect the child from injury during jerking or thrashing movements. • Do not put your fingers into the child's mouth in an attempt to grab the tongue during a convulsion. • Call your doctor. PRECAUTIONS • Call your doctor any time a child has convulsions. The cause and treatment must be determined by a doctor. • Convulsions without fever may be caused by a variety of illnesses. Epilepsy is not always the cause. • If you find your child unconscious, consider the possibility that epilepsy or another illness has led to a fall and unconsciousness. • See your doctor if your child has any signs of epileptic seizures without convulsions (see table on the following page). • Do not give mouthtomouth resuscitation to a child having convulsions. Convulsions (jerking movements or spasms of the muscles) that occur when a child has no fever may be caused by many conditions. Epilepsy is the bestknown cause. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes repeated attacks, or seizures. There are several forms of epilepsy, which are identified by the type of seizure experienced. (Although some forms of epilepsy cause convulsions, other types do not: therefore the term seizure is more properly used to describe an attack of epilepsy.) The cause of most types of epilepsy is not known. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Epilepsy must be diagnosed by a doctor. However, epilepsy can be suggested by the typical behavior that occurs in different types of seizures. In a generalized convulsive seizure, the child suddenly loses consciousness and may cry out as the seizure starts. The body stiffens, and the child may fall. scarlet