--- title: "Fever in children: when to get help | HealthAnswers" description: "A fever in children is 38°C or higher. Most settle in a few days. Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs prompt assessment — and a non-blanching rash…" url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/ robots: noindex --- # Fever in children: when to get help | HealthAnswers Symptoms A fever in children is 38°C or higher. Most settle in a few days. Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs prompt assessment — and a non-blanching rash is 999. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [Dr Neil Singh MBChB - nMRCGP](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/neil-singh/) · GMC 7039648 Reviewed 13 August 2026 ## Quick answer When is a fever in a child an emergency? A fever in children is a temperature of 38°C or higher. It usually means the body is fighting an infection. How your child looks and behaves matters more than the number. Call 999 for a non-blanching rash, severe breathing difficulty, or a child who is unresponsive. Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs urgent medical assessment. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Fever in children, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 8 sections ## Common causes of fever in children - A fever is 38°C or higher on a digital thermometer. - How the child looks — alert versus floppy — matters more than the exact reading. - Any fever of 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months needs prompt medical assessment. - A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it is a 999 call. - Follow the pack for paracetamol or ibuprofen — this page does not give milligram doses. ## Should I use this page, or get help now? Use this page if a child in the UK has a temperature and you need to know whether to self-care, call 111, or call 999. Skip it and call 999 if they are unresponsive, struggling to breathe, blue or grey, having a seizure that will not stop, or have a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it. Any baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs prompt medical assessment — do not wait for this article to finish. This page cannot diagnose the cause of a fever. ## What counts as a fever in a child? A fever is a temperature of 38°C or higher. It usually means the immune system is fighting an infection, most often a virus. The number on the thermometer is less important than how your child looks: alert versus floppy, drinking versus dry, consolable versus inconsolable. Use a digital thermometer. For babies under 4 weeks, NHS advice is an armpit reading. Forehead strips are less accurate. Do not use a mercury thermometer. ## What usually causes a fever? Colds, flu, [chickenpox](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/chickenpox/), ear infections, [tonsillitis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/tonsillitis/) and many other viruses are common. [Urinary tract infection](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infection/) can show as fever with few other clues in young children. Most viral fevers settle within three to five days. Fever after vaccinations can happen and is usually short-lived. If you are unsure whether this is an expected reaction or something else, use 111 rather than guessing. ## How should I look after them at home? Offer fluids little and often, dress them in light clothing, keep the room comfortably cool, and let them rest. Sponging with cold water is not recommended — it can cause shivering. A pharmacist can advise on [paracetamol](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/paracetamol/) or [ibuprofen](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/ibuprofen/) for discomfort. Follow the pack for that child’s age and weight. This page does not give milligram doses. Do not use aspirin in children unless a doctor has prescribed it. Find a GPhC-registered pharmacy on [Pick My Pharmacy](https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/) if you need age-appropriate medicine or a second pair of eyes on whether 111 is next. ## When should I call 999? Call 999 if the child is unresponsive or you cannot wake them, they are working hard to breathe or going blue or grey, a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or they do not recover afterwards, or a rash does not fade when a glass is rolled over it. A non-blanching rash with fever is treated as [meningitis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/meningitis/) until proven otherwise. Do not wait for a GP slot. See [rashes in children](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/rashes-in-children/) if the rash fades and they are otherwise well. ## When should I use 111 or a GP? Use 111 or urgent assessment for any fever in a baby under 3 months, or under 6 months with 39°C or higher. Also use 111 or a GP if fever lasts more than 5 days, they are not drinking, have not had a wet nappy for 12 hours, are crying constantly and cannot be comforted, or you are simply worried. In England, Scotland and Wales you can call 111 (NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland use GP out-of-hours via [nidirect](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/gp-out-hours-services). 999 is the same in every UK nation. ## What is a febrile seizure? Some children have a brief seizure when temperature rises quickly. It looks frightening. Most last less than 5 minutes and the child recovers. Call 999 if it lasts longer, it is their first seizure, they do not recover, or you are unsure. After a first febrile seizure they still need medical assessment even if they seem better. Do not put anything in their mouth during a seizure. Protect them from injury and time it. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if the child already meets a 999 description — call now. It is not a dose calculator, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for 111 when a baby under 3 months is hot. It is also the wrong page for an adult fever; use [flu](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/flu/) or [when to get help](https://healthanswers.co.uk/health-tools/when-to-get-help/). ## ! When to get medical help for fever in children Call **999** if a child is unresponsive, struggling to breathe, blue or grey, having a seizure that will not stop, or has a rash that does not fade under a glass. Use NHS 111 or go to urgent care for any fever in a baby under 3 months, or under 6 months with 39°C or higher. Contact 111 or a GP if fever lasts more than 5 days, they are not drinking, have fewer wet nappies, or you are worried — trust your instincts. ## Common questions about fever in children What temperature counts as a fever in a child? NHS advice is that 38°C or higher is a fever. Use a digital thermometer. Under 4 weeks, an armpit reading is usually recommended. Forehead strips are less reliable. The number is only one clue — a cooler child who is floppy still needs help. Should I wake my child to give fever medicine? If they are sleeping comfortably, you do not need to wake them just to bring the number down. Treat discomfort when they are awake. The aim is to help them drink and rest, not to chase a perfect temperature. Can I give paracetamol and ibuprofen together? A pharmacist can advise if one medicine is not enough. Follow the pack for that child's age and weight. Do not use adult doses. Do not guess milligrams from a search result. Avoid ibuprofen if they are dehydrated or have chickenpox unless a clinician says otherwise. Does a high fever cause brain damage? Fevers from common infections do not cause brain damage. Some children have a brief febrile seizure when temperature rises quickly. That looks frightening; most are short. Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, it is their first, or they do not recover afterwards. Is 111 the same for children in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Call 111 in England, Scotland (NHS 24) and Wales. Northern Ireland has no general 111 service — use your GP out-of-hours number on nidirect. 999 is the same everywhere for a life-threatening emergency. ## Sources - [NHS — High temperature (fever) in children](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/) - [NICE — Fever in under 5s (NG143)](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143) - [NHS 24 — When to phone 111 (Scotland)](https://www.nhs24.scot/111/) - [nidirect — GP out of hours (Northern Ireland)](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/gp-out-hours-services)