If your baby with a fever is under 3 months old, you should always see a doctor.
Your child's normal body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius.
Your child has a fever if their temperature is higher than 38 degrees Celsius.
A high fever usually means more than 38.5 degrees Celsius.
The number on the thermometer cannot tell you what is causing the fever or how sick your child is.
Fever by itself does not tell you whether your child is seriously sick.
If your child is miserable and seems unwell, and feels hot, you can use a thermometer to take their temperature. You don't need to do this if your child seems well.
The number on the thermometer cannot tell you:
Check out how to use thermometers [1]
The most common cause of a fever in a child is a viral infection. A bacterial infection is a less common but more serious cause.
The body's natural reaction to infection with a virus or bacteria is to raise the temperature inside the body. This helps to kill the infection.
Other causes of high body temperature include:
Fever is a normal way for a child to fight an infection. Being hot may make your child feel unhappy or uncomfortable, but the high temperature is very unlikely to cause any long-term problems.
A small number of children have seizures when they have fevers.
Read about febrile seizures [2]
If you are worried about your child, whether or not there is a fever, take them to see a doctor.
If you are worried about your child, whether or not there is a fever, take them to see a doctor.
If your child has already seen a doctor but they are getting worse, go back to your doctor.
Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.
Dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help if your child:
See KidsHealth's page on meningococcal disease for photos of a worrying rash [3].
You should see a doctor urgently if your child with a fever:
You should see a doctor if your child with a fever:
You can look after your child with a fever at home if they:
Tell your doctor if your child:
If your baby is less than 3 months old, they need a different and more cautious approach.
If your baby has a fever, make sure to go to your doctor.
Pēpi get fevers for the same reasons as older children, but they are not as good at fighting off infections.
If you are worried about them, take them to your doctor even if they do not have a fever.
Some pēpi may have an unstable temperature with an infection. They may be colder than normal. In a sick infant this is a worrying sign and is a reason to see a doctor urgently.
Undress your child so that they are just wearing a single layer (maybe a singlet and pants). Make sure the room is not too hot or too cold. These are the best and most comfortable ways to bring your child's temperature down. It's best not to give your child a bath or shower to cool them. You could use a cool face cloth.
Your child may need extra rest or they may want to play - this is OK.
Encourage them to drink fluids and eat healthy small meals.
If your child is happy, and they are not unwell, you do not need to do anything more. You do not need to treat the fever with a medicine.
Paracetamol
If your child is miserable because of the fever, you can give paracetamol to make them more comfortable. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
Other medicine
If your doctor gives your child ibuprofen, use it only if your child with a fever is miserable.
Don't give your child cold and flu medicines.
Never give your child aspirin as this may increase the risk of Reye syndrome, which is a rare and serious illness.
This page last reviewed 29 May 2023.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/thermometers-how-use-them
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/febrile-seizures
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/meningococcal-disease
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F32%3Flanguage%3Dmi