When does a child’s fever need urgent assessment or emergency care?
A temperature of 38°C or more under three months, or 39°C or more at three to six months, needs urgent assessment. Breathing difficulty, difficulty waking or a non-blanching rash requires emergency care. Temperature alone does not determine severity.
Details
Emergency warning signs
Seek immediate help for blue lips, severe breathing effort, unusual unresponsiveness, a seizure or a rash that does not fade under pressure. Do not wait for every sign to appear or delay help while trying another fever medicine.
When to contact a clinician
Alongside the age thresholds above, poor feeding, reduced urine, dehydration or fever lasting five days needs review. An immunocompromised child or one whose condition is deteriorating needs earlier assessment. Contact a professional if concerned even when the temperature is lower.
During home observation
Offer fluids or milk feeds, check the child regularly and avoid excessive wrapping. Fever medicine is intended to relieve discomfort using age- and weight-appropriate instructions, not to force the thermometer to a normal number. Do not give children aspirin or adult doses. Improvement after medicine does not replace assessment when warning signs are present.
Related reading: How should I measure my child’s temperature, and what counts as fever?.