Fever in children over 5 years

• Keep monitoring your child for red and amber features (see above). Seek help if they develop, as this may suggest a more severe illness requiring specific investigations and treatment.
• Keep your child as comfortable as possible. Consider giving paracetamol or ibuprofen for comfort.
• Offer them simple food and regular drinks.
• If they are vomiting, offer small frequent drinks as this is more likely to stay down.
• Do not try to control your child’s temperature with tepid sponging or fans.
• Keep an eye on your child day and night and follow the guidance overleaf. If a rash appears do “the glass test” (see guidance overleaf).
• If your child is due their vaccinations, postpone until after their fever has improved.
• Notify their school if you need to keep your child away while they are unwell and have a fever – see www.what0-18.nhs.uk for advice if you are unsure whether they need to be kept off school or not.

Most children with a fever do get better very quickly but some children can get worse. You need to regularly check your child during the day and also through the night and follow the advice given below.

• Fever is extremely common in children and usually suggests that your child has an infection.
• Your child has a fever if their temperature is over 38°C. The most accurate way of measuring your child’s temperature is with a digital thermometer.
• Viral infections are far more common than bacterial infections. Symptoms such as runny nose, cough, wheeze, sore throat, red eyes and diarrhoea are more suggestive of a viral infection than a bacterial infection. If a number of people are unwell in the same household, this also suggests a viral infection.
• Viral infections tend to get better on their own and do not need treatment with antibiotics.
• During a viral illness we would expect to see ongoing temperatures for 2-3 days and then a slow and gradual improvement of symptoms. If your child becomes more unwell after a period of initial improvement, then seek medical input.

• If your child is distressed you should consider giving them paracetamol or ibuprofen to help them feel more comfortable. Use one and if your child has not improved 2-3 hours later you may want to try giving the other medicine.
• Carefully read the instructions on the medicine for dose and frequency.
• You could ask your local pharmacist for more advice about medicines.
• In general, we do not recommend cough medicines.