What parents should know
What fever is and how to measure it
Fever usually means the immune system is responding to an infection, most often a viral one. Use a reliable digital thermometer and note the method you used, because forehead, ear, armpit and oral readings are not identical. Record the time and reading so you can describe the pattern accurately at a consultation.
Judge the illness as a whole. A child with a high reading who is drinking, alert and playing between temperature peaks is usually less worrying than a child with a lower reading who is drowsy, breathing fast or refusing all fluids.
- Use one thermometer and one method consistently
- Write down readings with times
- Note drinking, urine output and activity
- Do not judge severity by temperature alone
Home care while a child has fever
Offer fluids often, dress the child in light clothing and keep the room comfortable rather than hot or cold. Do not use cold baths, ice packs or alcohol rubs. Allow rest and a light diet; appetite often dips for a day or two while drinking continues.
Fever medicines are prescribed by weight and age, and the right choice depends on the child's history and other medicines. Ask Dr. Ateeq or a qualified pharmacist for a dose based on your child's current weight, and never use adult preparations or leftover prescriptions from another child.
When to contact a pediatrician
Arrange a consultation when fever lasts more than two to three days, keeps returning, comes with rash, ear pain, sore throat, vomiting, urinary symptoms or breathing changes, or when a child with an existing medical condition becomes unwell. Babies under three months should be assessed the same day for any fever.
Temperature reference & converter
Convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit so you can describe a reading accurately when you contact the clinic.
- Below 37.5 °C (99.5 °F)
- Usually considered a normal range for most children.
- 37.5–38 °C (99.5–100.4 °F)
- Slightly raised. Recheck, keep the child comfortable and offer fluids.
- 38 °C (100.4 °F) or above
- Generally described as fever. How the child looks and behaves matters more than the number.
Educational conversion only. A temperature reading alone does not show how serious an illness is, and readings differ between forehead, ear, armpit and other methods. Always judge alongside breathing, alertness, drinking and overall behaviour, and seek medical assessment when you are worried.
Seek urgent medical care now if
- • Difficulty breathing, fast or noisy breathing, grunting or chest pulling in
- • Blue, grey or very pale lips or skin
- • A seizure, unresponsiveness, extreme drowsiness or a child who cannot be woken
- • A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
- • Any fever in a baby under three months old
- • Signs of severe dehydration, inability to drink or no urine for many hours
Do not wait for an online reply or routine clinic appointment when a child has emergency warning signs.
See all emergency red flagsQuestions parents ask
Does a higher temperature mean a more serious illness?
No. The height of a fever does not reliably show how serious an infection is. Breathing, alertness, drinking, urine output and overall behaviour are more useful signs.
Should I wake my child to give fever medicine?
Usually not. Medicine is given for discomfort rather than for the number itself, so a comfortably sleeping child can often be left to rest. Ask the clinic if you are unsure for your child.
How long is fever expected to last?
Many viral fevers settle within two to three days. Fever that persists beyond that, keeps returning or comes with new symptoms should be assessed.
This information is for general parent education and does not replace examination, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified medical professional. In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency department rather than waiting for a clinic or online appointment.