To prevent future febrile seizures, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen at the first sign of a fever. (You may want to keep acetaminophen suppositories on hand). Then sponge your child with lukewarm water. Give him cool liquids to drink -- both to lower the temperature and keep him well hydrated.

Because febrile seizures can occur as the first sign of illness, prevention is often not possible. Neither an initial nor recurrent febrile seizure suggests that your child is not being properly cared for.

Occasionally, a physician will prescribe diazepam to prevent or treat recurrent febrile seizures.