A high temperature (fever) is very common in young children. The temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days.
A normal temperature in babies and children can vary slightly from child to child.
A high temperature is 38C or more.
If your child has a high temperature, they might:
- feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest
- feel sweaty
- look or feel unwell
- have a seizure or fit, called a febrile seizure
Use a digital thermometer, which you can buy from pharmacies and supermarkets, to take your child's temperature.
If your child or baby has a high temperature, you can usually look after them at home. The temperature should go down over 1 to 4 days.
Do
give them plenty of fluids – if your baby is breastfed, continue to breastfeed as normal
look out for signs of dehydration
give them food if they want it
check on your child regularly, including during the night
keep them at home
give them paracetamol or ibuprofen if they're distressed or uncomfortable – check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you're not sure
get medical advice if you're worried about your child
Don't
do not undress your child or sponge them down to cool them – a high temperature is a natural and healthy response to infection
do not cover them up in too many clothes or bedclothes
do not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age
do not combine ibuprofen and paracetamol, unless a GP tells you to
do not give paracetamol to a child under 2 months
do not give ibuprofen to a child who is under 3 months, weighs under 5kg, has chickenpox, or is dehydrated
do not give ibuprofen to children with asthma unless it's been recommended by a doctor
Call 111 or your GP surgery now if your child:
- is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
- is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
- has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
- has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
- does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
- is dehydrated – such as nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they're crying
Call 999 if your child:
- has a stiff neck
- has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
- is bothered by light
- has a fit (febrile seizure) for the first time (they cannot stop shaking)
- has unusually cold hands and feet
- has changes to their skin colour such as blue, grey, paler than usual or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin), or blue, grey or paler than usual lips or tongue
- is drowsy and hard to wake
- is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
- has difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- is not responding like they normally do, or is not interested in feeding or normal activities
A high temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds.
Many things can cause a high temperature in children, from common childhood illnesses like chickenpox and tonsillitis, to vaccinations.
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