Family Health Guide

Fever and Temperature Children

Young children and infants can’t control their body temperature as well as adults, so they quite often have a raised temperature (anything higher than 38 degrees Celcius).

A fever can be a sign that your child is fighting an infection, like a cold, an ear infection or tonsillitis. However some infants develop a fever while they are teething or after vaccinations. Whatever the cause, a high temperature can make a child miserable. In some children a high fever (over 39 degrees Celsius) can lead to fits. So it is important to monitor any fever, and try to coll your child when they have one.

Thermometers have moved on since most of us were children. Plastic strips that you place on your forehead, or ear thermometers all mean that you can get a temperature reading nearly instantly. Traditional mercury thermometers under the arm or toungue are really only suitable for children of six months or older (remember to clean the thermometer after use). You can buy all of these from your pharmacy.

Fever and Temperature Treatments

A high temperature should be treated by removing excess clothing – down to inderwear, if necessary so that body heat can escape. A lukewarm flannel or sponge can also help. Medicines like infant paracetamol can be used in babies over three months, while ibuprofen can only be given to babies who are six months or older. Aspirin should never be given to children under the age of 16 years. Always read the instructions carefully to check the appropriate dose for your child’s age, and the maximum number of doses in 24 hours.

Seek Medical Advice if

The fever is accompanied by confusion or disorientation
The child is persistently drowsy or difficult to wake Temperatures rise above 38.9 degrees C in children or 38 degrees C in a baby under one year.
Fever has no obvious cause
Fever is accompanied by more than three episodes of diarrhoea in the last 24 hours.
There is blood in the diarrhoea Fever is accompanied by vomiting and an inability to keep fluids down
Fever does not respond to medication and lasts longer than 24 hours
There is any fever in an infant under two months
In babies, where less than half the usual amount of feed has been taken in the last day
In babies, where there have been fewer than four wet nappies in the last 24 hours.