Fever in children
Your health expert: Dr Adrian Raby, General Practitioner
Content editor review by Rachael Mayfield-Blake, December 2021
Next review due December 2024
The normal body temperature of children varies from child to child and goes up and down naturally throughout the day. But fever in children is when their temperature is 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. The medical name for fever is pyrexia.
About fever in children
Fever is very common, especially in young children. Each year, around three in 10 parents seek health advice because their child has a fever. When your child is ill and has a fever, it can be upsetting and worrying but there are things you can do to help them feel better.
A high temperature (fever) in children is usually caused by an infection of some kind, and often gets better on its own. But it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious infection. So, it’s important to know how to manage and treat your child when they have a fever, and when to get medical help.
Causes of fever in children
There are many conditions that can cause a fever in children. Most fevers in children are caused by viral infections, and some are caused by bacterial infections. These can include coughs, colds, flu and other viral infections, and throat, ear, chest and urine infections. Less often, a fever can be a sign of a serious illness such as meningitis or sepsis.
Children can also develop a fever as a symptom of other health conditions, including some autoimmune conditions. An autoimmune condition is when your immune system attacks your healthy body tissues. Familial dysautonomia, some cancers, liver disease and kidney disease may all cause a fever. But these causes are rare.
Children can also get a fever as a side-effect of some immunisations. For more information, see the FAQ: Could my child have a fever after being immunised?
Symptoms of fever in children
If your child has a fever, they’ll have a body temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. They may feel or look generally unwell and may not be as active and engaged as usual. They may not want to eat or drink.
Your child’s temperature alone isn’t always a sign of how serious their illness is. Sometimes, minor illnesses can cause a very high temperature, whereas some serious infections can cause only a small rise in temperature. As well as your child’s high temperature, you may notice other symptoms of an infection such as:
- diarrhoea and vomiting
- earache or your child may clutch at their ears
- a cough, runny nose or wheezy breathing
- a rash
Getting medical advice or help
If your child has a high temperature or fever, they may need to go to a hospital for treatment. You should get medical help straightaway by taking your child to accident and emergency or calling an ambulance if they:
- are less than three months old and have a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
- have bluish, pale or mottled skin
- have a weak, high-pitched cry or won’t stop crying
- have difficulty breathing or are breathing very quickly or noisily
- have a stiff neck
- shy away from bright lights
- develop a rash that doesn’t disappear when you press on it
- don’t respond to you in the usual way – for example, your baby doesn’t smile when you smile
- are dehydrated – see the FAQ below for symptoms of dehydration
Seek urgent medical advice from your GP or out-of-hours service if:
- you think they’re getting worse instead of better
- they’re shivering
- they’re unusually sleepy or difficult to wake up
- they’re less active than usual
- their fever has lasted for five days or more
- they have swollen joints, arms or legs
- they can’t put weight on one or both legs, or they don’t seem to be using their arms or legs
- they don’t pee as much as normal
- they are not feeding or eating as normal
In some children, a high fever can lead to fits called febrile seizures or convulsions. If this happens, your child can lose consciousness and twitch and shake for several minutes. You can find out what to do if your child has a febrile seizure, in the FAQ section.
Diagnosis of fever in children
You can tell if your child has a fever by checking their temperature with a thermometer. You can do this yourself at home.
- If your child is younger than four weeks old, use an electronic thermometer to take their temperature under their arm (in their armpit).
- For children between a month and five years, you can measure temperature under their arm or in their ear using an electronic thermometer.
- You can use a digital mouth thermometer for children aged over five (as well as the methods for younger children).
Follow the instructions that come with the thermometer to make sure you get an accurate reading.
Thermometers that measure temperature on a child’s forehead can be unreliable. It is better to use one of the types listed above.
At the doctor’s
If you go to see your GP, they’ll ask about your child's symptoms and medical history and examine them. If you’ve travelled abroad recently or had contact with someone who has been unwell with a fever, let your GP know. They’ll take your child’s temperature and check their heart rate. Your GP might check for other signs of infection by examining your child’s ears, throat and tummy (abdomen), and by listening to their breathing.
There may be an obvious cause for your child’s fever, so they may not need to have further tests. But if it isn’t clear, your GP may ask for a urine (pee) sample. Your GP may also refer your child to a paediatrician (a doctor who specialises in children’s health) for more tests.
Under 18 GP Appointments
We now offer GP appointments for children aged between 1 and 18 via our remote video service (UK wide) and face to face appointments at selected centres. Please note that these appointments cannot be booked online so please call 0330 822 3072 for more information or to book. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. We may record and monitor our calls. Available from £49.
To book or to make an enquiry, call us on 0343 253 8381∧
Self-help for fever in children
Fever is part of the body’s natural response to infection, so sometimes it doesn’t need to be treated, as long as your child isn’t distressed.
Offer your child something to drink regularly to prevent them getting dehydrated. If you’re breastfeeding your child, you can carry on as normal. For information on how you can tell if your child is dehydrated, see the FAQ: How can I tell if my child is dehydrated?
Although it’s important that your child doesn’t overheat, take care to ensure they aren’t underdressed either. Don’t actively try to cool your child – for example, with tepid sponging or a cold bath. It’s unlikely to work, it can be distressing for your child, and it may cause them to start shivering.
While your child has a fever, it’s best to keep them away from school or nursery. Keep an eye on them and check them during the night too.
Medicines
If your child has a fever and they’re uncomfortable or distressed, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don’t give these medicines just to bring down their temperature if your child is otherwise well.
If you try paracetamol and it doesn’t seem to work, you can try ibuprofen instead and vice versa. Don’t give both medicines at once though.
Make sure you keep a note of how much paracetamol or ibuprofen your child has had and when you’ve given it. This will help to make sure you don’t accidentally give them more than the recommended amount.
You can buy medicines for children from a pharmacy without a prescription. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your child’s medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
Treatment of fever in children
A high fever in children is often caused by a viral infection and will get better on its own. So, to treat your child’s fever, you may just need to keep them comfortable and wait for them to get better (see our section on self-help). But sometimes, a fever can be the sign of a more serious illness. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for any changes in your child’s behaviour and any other symptoms.
If your GP believes your child has a bacterial infection, they may prescribe a course of antibiotics to treat the cause of the fever. And if your child’s doctor identifies the cause of the fever, they’ll treat this if possible.
Common childhood viruses
In this podcast, Specialist Health Editor, Alice Windsor, is joined by Bupa GP, Dr Samantha Wild, to discuss common childhood viruses. They discuss why children pick up so many viruses and illnesses during childhood, how to manage them and when to seek medical advice. They also discuss the implications of the pandemic on general immunity and if the vaccination programme will extend to children.
Common childhood viruses [podcast]
Why children pick up so many viruses | Podcast | Listen in 18:31 minutes
In this podcast, Bupa GP, Dr Samantha Wild, to discuss common childhood viruses. Find out why children pick up so many viruses and illnesses during childhood, how to manage them and when to seek medical advice. They also discuss how the pandemic has affected general immunity, and whether the vaccination programme will extend to children.
A high fever in children will normally get better on its own as your child fights off an infection. While they recover you can do some things to keep them comfortable. But sometimes, a fever can be the sign of a more serious illness. So, it’s important to keep an eye out for any changes in your child’s behaviour and any other symptoms.
For more information, see our sections: Self-help for fever in children and Symptoms of fever in children.
A child is considered to have a fever if their temperature is 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. The normal body temperature of children can vary and can go up and down in an individual child naturally throughout the day. But if it’s higher than 38°C (100.4°F), they have a fever.
Yes, you can let your child go to sleep but do check on them regularly during the night. If you’re at all concerned, contact your GP surgery or call an ambulance. For more information on how to assess your child’s fever and get an idea of what’s normal and when to get help, see our section: Symptoms of fever in children.
Your child or baby may look generally unwell if they’re dehydrated. They may pee less and have sunken eyes too. If they cry, they won’t produce any tears. Give your child something to drink regularly if they have a fever. If you’re breastfeeding, keep trying to feed your baby.
Yes, immunisation can sometimes cause a mild fever. Some vaccines – for example, tetanus – can cause a fever within a few hours. Others, such as the MMR vaccine, may lead to fever seven to 10 days later. When your child has a vaccine, ask your health professional what to do if your child develops a fever.
Febrile seizures (fits caused by a high temperature) can be very frightening but try to stay calm. Use your hands or a cushion to protect your child’s head. Once the seizure stops, put your child in the recovery position while they recover. Febrile seizures usually last just a few minutes and often don’t need any treatment. But if the seizure lasts for longer than five minutes, call for an ambulance.
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