Fever
Date issued: November 2024
For review: November 2024
Ref: A-482/NK/Child Health/Fever v2
PDF: Fever[pdf] 221KB
What is Fever?
A fever is a high temperature of 38C or above, which is part of your child’s natural response to an infection. It is very common within children and in most cases, you can be reassured that your child will be best cared for at home.
Body temperature can be measured in many different ways. You can use a thermometer at home, if you have one available. Equally trust your own judgement, if your child feels hot to touch, they probably do have a raised temperature.
Causes of fever
Early on in your child’s illness, it might be difficult to work out what it is that is causing the temperature. Most commonly the temperature will be due to a viral illness which might also cause a runny nose, earache, sore throat, red eyes, rash, vomiting and diarrhoea. Later on, in the illness it may be easier to recognise the infection, i.e., chicken pox or tonsillitis.
Medicines for the fever
Current advice for the treatment of fevers is that we should use medicines such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen to bring the temperature down, but only when your child is distressed by the fever. If they are their normal self, happy and playing then the medicines are not required.
Current guidance does not recommend giving both Paracetamol and Ibuprofen at the same time, but rather, staggering doses if the first medicine doesn’t appear to have worked.
Your child _________received Paracetamol at _____. You can give further doses at _______.
Your child _________received Ibuprofen at _____. You can give further doses at ______.
When to see a Doctor
You should seek further advice if ….
- Your child develops a rash that does not fade when you press it
- Your child has a fever above 38C and is under 3 months
- Your child has a seizure
- Fever lasts for more than 5 days
- Your child’s health worsens
- You are concerned about looking after your child at home
Please do not hesitate to contact the nurse or hospital doctor when within your 72 hours open access or contact your health visitor or GP for further advice outside of this time.
72 hours open access
Your child has been given 72 hours open access to the children’s assessment unit.
This enables you to contact a nurse/doctor if you are concerned about your child and need advice if the symptoms worsen or continue.
Advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01752 430401 if within your 72 hours open access.
Should your child become unwell once the 72 hours open access has ended then please contact your GP or if necessary the emergency department.
In an emergency, please call 999
