What to do when your child has a fever

Fever is the body’s response to an infection and is not an illness in itself. In children it is most often the result of a viral infection that passes within a few days. The number on the thermometer matters less in deciding what to do than most parents expect. Fever itself does not damage the brain, and its height does not tell you whether it is a virus or bacteria.

Behaviour tells you more than the temperature. Is the child drinking? Do they respond when you talk to them? How are they breathing? What colour is their skin? Do they perk up at least for a while when the temperature comes down? A child with 39 degrees who plays during this time is usually less worrying than a floppy child with 38 degrees.

For a baby under three months, this rule does not apply. At this age, any raised body temperature is a reason for an immediate medical examination, even if the baby looks well. Signs of infection in the youngest are non-specific and can get worse quickly.

At home, fluids matter most. Offer them often and in small amounts; a baby should breastfeed or bottle-feed more often. Do not dress the child too warmly or cover them with several blankets, as the extra layer raises the temperature. Cold baths and alcohol compresses have no place in treating a fever. A child who does not want to eat but drinks regularly usually needs no special concern; appetite returns after a few days.

Give a fever-reducing medicine for how the child feels, not for the number. In children the dose is calculated per kilogram of body weight, so dose by weight and not by age, and keep to the minimum interval between doses. Do not alternate two active substances on your own; if you are considering it, get advice first.

Some signs need immediate care, not a booked appointment: a child who is hard to wake or unusually floppy, fast or laboured breathing with the chest sucking in, a rash that does not fade when pressed with a clear glass, a seizure, a stiff neck, blue lips, or signs of dehydration – a dry mouth, noticeably fewer wet nappies and crying without tears. In these cases call 112.

Book an examination if the fever lasts more than three days, if it comes back after a few days of improvement, if the child complains of ear pain or pain when passing urine, and if you are simply not sure. That uncertainty is not your burden to carry. When you book, say what the problem is; examining a child with a fever needs a different appointment from a nursery entry check-up.

The paediatric clinic at the centre works under the public health insurance scheme of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZZZS) and on a self-pay basis. You can book as a self-paying patient without a referral; if your child is registered with us, say when you book what can be arranged for them under compulsory health insurance. Bring the vaccination booklet, any reports and the boxes of medicines your child takes.