Fever control Parent/Carer discharge information

Introduction

Your child has a fever. This leaflet aims to provide you with information to care for your child at home. If you have any questions or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please contact:

Children’s Assessment Unit on 02476 865 631
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust switchboard number: 02476 351 351

What is a Fever?

A fever is classed as a temperature over 36.5 degrees centigrade. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection somewhere in the body. You may be able to tell your child has a fever if they feel hot to touch, sweaty, clammy, or flushed. If you suspect your child has a temperature you should check with a thermometer.

• Under arm thermometers are safe, cheap and readily available, these are recommended for children.
• Ear thermometers are available but can be more expensive, these are recommended if your child is older.

Medicines

Fever is a natural and healthy response to infection, so do not try to reduce your child’s fever by over or under dressing them, or by sponging them with water.

Although it is not necessary to treat fever, there are two medicines that can be used to treat distress caused by fever and being unwell. These are ibuprofen and paracetamol, and they may make your child feel better.  They are equally effective, so you should start with one and only use the other if the first has not worked, but you should not give both at the same time.

Read the instructions carefully as these medicines come in different strengths, and they may also be contained in other products that your pharmacist sells.  If you have any doubt you should tell the pharmacist what you are currently using.

What to do when your child has a fever

• offer your child regular drinks (if you are breastfeeding then breast milk is best).
• check for signs that your child may be dehydrated (dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes, sunken fontanelle – the soft spot on a baby’s head).  If you notice any of these signs seek further advice (see section below). 
• check your child for rashes and know how to look for and identify a non-blanching rash (a rash that does not disappear with pressure) as that could be a sign of serious illness.
• check on your child during the night.
• keep your child away from school or nursery while they have a fever and notify them of your child’s absence.

When to seek further advice

You should seek medical attention by calling 111 or your GP if;

• your child is under 3 months and has a new or ongoing temperature over 38c.
• your child is 3-6 months and has a new or ongoing temperature over 39c.
• your child is breathing faster than normal.
• your baby has a high pitched cry different to normal.
• your baby/child looks mottled or pale and feels cold to touch.
• the fever lasts longer than 5 days.

You should seek medical attention by calling 999 if;

• your child is difficult to wake or lethargic/floppy.
• your child has a fit / convulsion / seizure.
• your child has a rash that does not disappear when you roll a clear tumbler over it.

George Eliot Hospital is a smoke free environment. For help and advice to stop smoking you can call the national helpline on 0300 123 1044 or visit https://fitterfutures.everyonehealth.co.uk/stop-smoking-service/ ​​​​​​. You can also call the local telephone number for the Warwickshire service on 0333 005 0092 or Coventry service on 0800 112 3780.

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