Fever/high temperature (3 months and over)
Fever is very common in children and can happen when your child has an infection. Most children recover quickly with no treatment.
If your child has any of the following:
- Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
- Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
- Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the rib or noisy breathing (grunting)
- Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
- Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
- Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
- Has a fit (seizure)
- Has a rash that does go away with pressure (see the 'Glass Test')
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
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Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
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Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
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Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months
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Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
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Dry skin, lips or tongue
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Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
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Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
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Irritable (unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
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Swelling of a limb or joint
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Not using or putting weight on an arm, leg, hand or foot
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Complaining of severe pain that is not improving with painkillers
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Has had chickenpox in the past few days and is now getting worse with a high fever or spreading red rash
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Getting worse or you are worried about them
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features
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Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
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If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you may want to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways.
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Additional advice is also available for families for help cope with crying in otherwise well babies
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
This guidance has been reviewed and adapted by healthcare professionals across North East and North Cumbria with consent from the Hampshire development groups.
Choose appropriate sized spacer with mask (or mouthpiece if child is over 3 years with good technique and is not significantly short of breath).
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Shake the inhaler well and remove cap.
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Fit the inhaler into the opening at the end of the spacer.
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Place mask over the child’s face or mouthpiece in their mouth ensuring a good seal
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Press the inhaler once and allow the child to take 5 slow breaths between each dose or count to 10
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Remove the inhaler and shake between every puff. Wait 1 minute between puffs.
Repeat steps 1 – 5 for subsequent doses
Plastic spacers should be washed before 1st use and every month as per manufacturer’s guidelines
Choose appropriate sized spacer with mask (or mouthpiece if child is over 3 years with good technique and is not significantly short of breath).
-
Shake the inhaler well and remove cap.
-
Fit the inhaler into the opening at the end of the spacer.
-
Place mask over the child’s face or mouthpiece in their mouth ensuring a good seal
-
Press the inhaler once and allow the child to take 5 slow breaths between each dose or count to 10
-
Remove the inhaler and shake between every puff. Wait 1 minute between puffs.
Repeat steps 1 – 5 for subsequent doses
Plastic spacers should be washed before 1st use and every month as per manufacturer’s guidelines
- Keep your child well hydrated by offering them lots to drink
- Most children with coughs and colds do not require treatment with antibiotics.
- If your child seems to be in pain or discomfort, you can give your child Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, following the instructions on the container.
- Do not give cough syrup. It is not recommended for children under 6 years. It can make children sleepy and does not help.
- Try using saline nose drops or spray if your baby has a blocked nose.
- For children over 2 years, vapour rubs (containing camphor, menthol and/or eucalyptus) may help children sleep better.
This guidance is written by healthcare professionals from across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.