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How long does a high temperature last in a child?
What is the normal body temperature of a child?
What if my child has a fever or a high temperature?
What causes a high temperature in children?
A high temperature (fever) is very common in young children. The temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days. Checking a high temperature. 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:
- Dehydration
have been in the sun too long ; have drunk too much alcohol;...
- Dehydration
- Symptoms of Fever in Children
- How to Measure A Child's Temperature
- When Should You Go to The Doctor?
- Why Do Children Get Fevers?
- Causes of Fever in Children
- How Common Is Fever in Children?
- How Is The Cause of Fever in Children Diagnosed?
- What Further Tests Are Possible?
- What to Do If A Child Has A Fever/High temperature?
- How to Manage A Fever
Typical symptoms of fever in children are: 1. A raised body temperature, measuring 38°C or higher. 2. Feeling hot to touch. 3. Feeling cold and shivery. 4. Looking pale. 5. Headache. 6. Tummy ache. 7. Red or flushed skin. 8. Feeling sick. The actual level of the temperature in fever is not a good guide to how severely ill a child is once they are o...
Forehead strip thermometers are not very accurate. Ideally you should use one of the following to measure your child's temperature: 1. Under 4 weeks old, with an electronic thermometer in the armpit. 2. Between 4 weeks and 5 years old: 2.1. With an electronic thermometer in the armpit. 2.2. With a chemical dot thermometer in the armpit. 2.3. With a...
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidelines aimed to help healthcare professionals assess children with fever. These can also be useful to parents. They look at the symptoms seen in children with fever and allocate them to categories of 'green', 'amber' and 'red'. They are shown in the table below. Green sym...
The most common causes of fever in children in the UK are viral infections - the fever helps to fight infection. There are many other uncommon causes. Our normal body temperature is around 37°C. Our temperature can go up and down a little, around this figure, during the day. Children's temperatures can easily rise slightly with things like hot bath...
The most common causes of fever in children in the UK are viral infections. There are many other uncommon causes. Some of these will show other obvious signs: 1. Infections with germs called viruses are the most common cause. Viral infections cause many common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, diarrhoea, etc. Sometimes viral infections cause mo...
Fever and feverish illness are very common in young children, particularly in those aged less than 5 years, and it can be really worrying for parents. It's not always easy to judge how sick your child is, or whether you should ask for medical help. Three to four out of every 10 parents of children aged less than 5 years say their child has had a fe...
If your child has no 'amber' or 'red' warning signs, and they have other symptoms such as runny nose or sneezing suggesting a simple viral infection, their temperature will usually come down fairly quickly. In these cases, you can usually assume they have a simple cold. If you telephone your GP or out of hours service, the healthcare professional w...
Often, the healthcare professional who assesses your child will decide that no further tests are necessary. This is usually because there are no worrying signs in your child's condition and your doctor or nurse feels able to diagnose the infection, based on their training and experience. Occasionally, however, they are uncertain. 1. This may be bec...
You do not need to use paracetamol and ibuprofen if your child is comfortable and not distressed by the fever, aches or pains. A child with a fever may look flushed and irritable and they may not feel like doing very much. 1. Make your child comfortable - details below. 2. Check for signs of lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). 3. Check for sig...
The important things are to try to keep your child calm, reassured and comfortable. 1. Give lots to drink. This helps to prevent a lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). You might find that a child is more willing to have a drink if they are not so irritable. So, if they are not keen to drink, it may help to give some paracetamol first. Then, try...
It can be extremely worrying if your child has a high temperature. But it’s very common and often clears up by itself without treatment. A quick and easy way to find out whether your child has a fever is to take their temperature using a thermometer.
Jan 8, 2024 · How long will your child’s symptoms last? Fever caused by a viral infection will usually start to improve within 2 to 3 days. If your child’s fever lasts for more than 5 days, get them seen by your GP.
Oct 28, 2023 · Make a GP appointment or call 111 if your child: is under 3 months of age and has a temperature above 38 degrees C, or they feel hot to touch; is 3-6 months of age and has a temperature above 39 degrees C, or they feel hot to touch; has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
It's really important that you measure your child's temperature accurately - you should use a digital thermometer (under the the armpit (axillary) for children 5 years and younger, and in the mouth for children over 5 years of age).
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.
