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Fever or high temperature

Fever is very common in children and can happen when your child has an infection. Most children get better quickly with no treatment. 

Please see red/amber/green tables in the when to worry section for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.

  • Viral infections are far more common than bacterial infections

  • Symptoms such as runny nose, cough, wheeze, sore throat, red eyes and diarrhoea are more likely with a viral infection. If several people are unwell in the same home, this also suggests a viral infection (because viral infections are easily spread)

  • Most viral infections get better on their own and do not need antibiotics. Antibiotics can cause side effects such as rash and diarrhoea and can increase the risk of them developing antibiotic resistance

  • How your child is compared to their usual self is more important than what the temperature is

  • Fever is common in babies up to 48 hours after immunisations - it is OK to give paracetamol after the MenB vaccine if your baby is otherwise well

  • Occasionally, children with fever can have a seizure or fit. This is called a febrile convulsion and most often happens in children aged between 6 months and 3 years

How to take a temperature

You should use a digital thermometer, which you can buy in supermarkets and pharmacies. 

This should be under the armpit for children 5 years and younger, and in the mouth for children over 5 years of age. 

You could also use an in the ear thermometer for children over six months of age.

How to take a temperature

Fever

Click here to watch this video in Bengali

Click here to watch this video in Gujrati

Click here to watch this video in Polish

Click here to watch this video in Punjabi

Click here to watch this video in Urdu

When should you worry?

If your child has any of the following:

  • Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)

  • Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink 

  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)

  • Breathing that stops or pauses

  • Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch

  • Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused

  • Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled

  • Has a fit (seizure)

  • Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)

You need urgent help

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If your child has any of the following:

  • Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)

  • Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)

  • Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months

  • Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe

  • Dry skin, lips or tongue

  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours

  • Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)

  • Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)

  • Swelling of a limb or joint

  • Not using or putting weight on an arm, leg, hand or foot.

  • Complaining of severe pain that is not improving with painkillers

  • Has had chickenpox in the past few days and is now getting worse with a high fever or spreading red rash

  • Getting worse or you are worried about them

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today

Please call your GP surgery or contact NHS 111 - Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.(111 online does not currently take questions about children aged under 5, so if your child is 4 or younger,  please call 111).

If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.

If none of the above features are present:

  • Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms

  • If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you may want to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways.

  • Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies – click here.

  • If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111

What should you do?

  • Keep checking your child for red and amber signs and seek help if they are there

  • Fever is a normal response that helps your child’s body to fight an infection

  • If your child seems unsettled or uncomfortable, you may wish to give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen

  • It can take 30 minutes for your child’s temperature to start to fall and for your child to start to feel better after taking paracetamol or ibuprofen

  • If you have given your child one of these medicines and they are still uncomfortable 2 hours later you could try the other medicine

Paracetamol

  • There are different types of paracetamol for children of different ages including 2 different strengths of syrup - infant and Six plus. Always read the dose instructions carefully. You must wait at least 4 hours between doses. Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours

Ibuprofen

  • Ibuprofen is available in syrup and tablet form. Ibuprofen is not suitable for some children. If you are unsure whether your child can take ibuprofen, check with your pharmacist or doctor. Always read the dose instructions carefully. Don't give ibuprofen if your child has not had a wee in the last 12 hours. You must wait at least 6 hours between doses. Do not give more than 3 doses in 24 hours

  • It can be normal for the temperature to go back up when the medicine wears off

  • Avoid tepid sponging your child. It doesn’t actually reduce your child’s temperature and may cause your child to shiver

  • Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids

  • If a rash appears, do the glass test

How long will your child’s symptoms last?

  • Fever caused by a viral infection tends to improve within 2 to 3 days

  • If your child’s fever lasts for more than 5 days, get them assessed by your GP

  • The chart below shows how long fever lasts in a child with viral infections. The faces represent 10 children who have been assessed by their GP with a viral infection. Green faces are those children whose fever has recovered within that time period

A chart showing that 6 out of 10 children with fever are recovered by day 2, and 8 out of 10 children with fever are recovered by day 5.

The diagrams above are taken from www.whenshouldiworry.com

Where should you seek help?

For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between

Self-care

You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.

Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.

Sound advice

Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Sound advice

  • Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP
  • Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately
  • Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.

Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.

Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.

Sound advice

Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:

  • Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
  • Exercise, hygiene and safety
  • Your child’s growth and development
  • Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
  • Safety in the home
  • Stopping smoking
  • Contraception and sexual health
  • Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
  • Toilet training
  • Minor illnesses

For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?

School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and or emotional health needs.

Contacting the School Nurse

Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.

There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.

Sound Advice

Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.

They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:

  • encouraging healthier lifestyles
  • offering immunisations
  • giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
  • supporting children with complex health needs

Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.

GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.

Sound advice

You have a choice of service:

  • Doctors or GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, you can call 111 or use 111 online.

Please note that 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.

Sound advice

Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.

Sound advice

  • Many visits to A&E and calls to 999 could be resolved by any other NHS services
  • If your child's condition is not critical, choose another service to get them the best possible treatment
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about going to A&E or riding in an ambulance
Survey for parents and carers - what was the outcome of you looking at this page?