High Temperature (Fever) in Children

What causes high temperatures?

• Viral infections are the common cause. Virus infections cause many common illnesses such as colds, coughs, 'flu, diarrhoea, etc. Sometimes virus infections cause more serious illnesses.
• Bacterial infections are less common than viral infections, but also cause high temperatures. Bacteria are more likely to cause serious illness such as pneumonia and meningitis.
• Other types of infection are uncommon causes of a high temperature in the UK.

What should I do?

• Give paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can buy these in liquid form for children. They come in various brand names. An alternative is to give soluble paracetamol in a drink.
• Take the clothes off the child if the room is normal 'room temperature'. IT IS WRONG TO WRAP UP A FEVERISH CHILD.
• Give lots of cool drinks. This helps to lower the temperature and prevents dehydration.

Do not 'cold-sponge' a child who has a high temperature. This used to be popular, but it is now not advised. This is because the blood vessels under the skin may become narrower (constrict) if the water is too cold. This reduces the heat lost from the body, and can trap heat in deeper parts of the body. The child may then get worse. Many children also find cold-sponging uncomfortable.

Some people use a fan to cool a child. Again, this may not be a good idea if the fanned air is too cold. However, a gentle flow of air in a room which is 'room temperature' may be helpful. Perhaps just open the window, or use a fan on the other side of the room to keep the air circulating.

What should I look out for?

A child with a high temperature may look quite unwell. He or she may be flushed and irritable. However, most bouts of high temperature are not caused by serious illness, and the temperature often comes down quickly. It is quite common to see a child happily playing an hour or so later when their temperature has come down. They will not be entirely back to normal, but it is reassuring if a child improves with the drop in temperature.

As a rule, a child with a serious infection will usually become worse, and more ill, despite efforts to bring their temperature down. In addition, they may have other worrying symptoms. For example, breathing problems, drowsiness, convulsions, pains, or headaches which become worse despite paracetamol or ibuprofen.

See a doctor if a child does not improve soon, or has any worrying symptom.

© EMIS and PIP 2006   Updated: June 2006   PRODIGY Validated