See your doctor if your baby’s temperature is:
In children older than 6 months do not use height of body temperature alone to identify those with serious illness (see lists below).
Recognise that children younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher are in a high-risk group for serious illness. (Note that some vaccinations have been found to induce fever in children aged under 3 months.)
Recognise that children aged 3 to 6 months with a temperature of 39°C or higher are in at least an intermediate-risk group for serious illness.
Do not use duration of fever to predict the likelihood of serious illness. However, children with a fever lasting 5 days or longer should be assessed for Kawasaki disease by your doctor or health practitioner.
In children aged 4 weeks to 5 years, measure body temperature by one of the following methods:
Forehead thermometers are not recommended as they may be less accurate.
If, as well as an abnormally high or low temperature, there are any signs of a rash that you can’t explain (especially if it’s flat and purple and doesn’t fade when you roll a glass over it – a non-blanching rash), call an ambulance immediately as this could indicate meningitis.
Meningococcal meningitis can also cause your baby’s temperature to drop rapidly, and this can be a sign of sepsis or blood poisoning.
An abnormally low temperature should always be checked out by a doctor whether a rash is present or not.
If your baby has a fever / low temperature and is having trouble breathing, seek medical help immediately or call an ambulance.
If the fever is accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of appetite, a cough, earache, vomiting, diarrhoea or trouble sleeping, see your doctor.
It’s important to follow your instincts. If you’re worried, get medical help straight away.
If your baby is over 3 months old and is feeding/ drinking well, there’s no reason to worry unless the fever is very high (as outlined above) or lasts longer than 24 hours.
Some babies get a mild fever in reaction to a vaccination, which is normal – it might even occur a few days after your baby has had her jab. The nurse vaccinating your baby should advise you on what to look out for and how to treat common symptoms. Remember, though, that you might not be able to give your baby medicine as it depends on her age (see below).
Babies with older siblings who are suffering from a cold may catch it too, and as a result feel hotter than normal – if he’s also snotty and grumpy, chances are he’s under the weather.
If there’s no obvious reason for a fever, especially if your baby is very young, seek medical help immediately.
If your baby has a very high fever and is old enough, you can give her the appropriate dose of infant paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions on the bottle and never exceed the stated dose.
Although the medicine will bring your baby’s temperature down, there might be an underlying problem that it’s simply masking. It’s best to see your doctor straight away to check it’s nothing serious.
Recognise that children with any of the following symptoms or signs are in a high-risk group for serious illness:
Recognise that children with any of the following symptoms or signs are in at least an intermediate-risk group for serious illness:
Recognise that children who have all of the following features, and none of the high- or intermediate-risk features, are in a low-risk group for serious illness:
