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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/fit. This is called a febrile convulsion and most often happens in children aged between 6 months and 3 years.
Click here for an Operation Ouch video on fever that you and your child can watch together.
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.
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Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 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.
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111. Keep monitoring your child for red and amber features and seek help if they develop
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
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.
• 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.
The diagrams above are taken from www.whenshouldiworry.com
Watch a local GP and health visitor talking about what they would look out for in a child with a fever:
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.
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.
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.
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
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.
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:-
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.
You have a choice of service:
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. 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.
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.
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.
