Fever in children

Infants need faster assessment

In an infant under 3 months, a temperature of 38 °C or higher requires urgent medical assessment, even if the baby looks relatively well. Do not delay the consultation to see whether the temperature falls after a bath. In children aged 3–6 months, a temperature of 39 °C or higher requires prompt assessment.

In older children, the pediatrician relies particularly on the general condition. A child with a lower temperature who is lethargic and has difficulty breathing may need more urgent help than an active child with a higher temperature.

If the child has a seizure

If the child has a seizure, move away objects that could cause injury, do not hold the child down and do not put anything in the mouth. Measure the duration. Do not give fluids or medicines by mouth during the episode; seizures lasting more than 5 minutes require immediate help.

What to observe at home

Note when the fever began, how it was measured, the medicines given and the other symptoms. Use a digital thermometer according to its instructions; measurement under the armpit is suitable for young children. Touching the forehead does not give a reliable measurement.

Observe whether the child drinks, urinates, interacts and breathes without effort. Check during the night as well. Noticeably less frequent urination, a dry mouth, refusal to feed or worsening call for contact with the doctor. Seek reassessment when the fever lasts 5 days or more; do not wait for this limit if the condition is concerning.

Comfort and hydration

Offer fluids often and continue breastfeeding. Food is offered according to appetite. Avoid overdressing, cold baths and rubbing with alcohol. Fever-reducing medicines are used for discomfort and pain, according to suitability for age and weight and professional guidance.

Do not combine or alternate preparations on your own, and check whether two products contain the same active ingredient. Aspirin is not used in children without a specialist indication. Antipyretics should not be used specifically to prevent febrile seizures. A fall in temperature after them does not exclude a serious infection.

Frequently asked questions from parents

At what temperature should I worry? The number alone does not decide. An infant under 3 months with a temperature of 38 °C or higher needs urgent assessment. In older children, behavior, drinking, urination, breathing and the presence of other signs matter more than the thermometer reading.

How should I measure temperature correctly? Use a digital thermometer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Measurement under the armpit is suitable for young children; touching the forehead with a hand is not reliable. Note the time, the value and any medicines given, so you can tell the doctor.

Must I bring the temperature down at all costs? No. Fever is a response of the body and is not harmful in itself. Medicines relieve discomfort and pain, not necessarily shorten the illness. The child’s condition matters: if they drink, play and interact, there is no need to lower it at all costs.

Can I give two medicines one after the other for fever? Do not alternate or combine preparations without the doctor’s advice, because you risk double dosing of the same active ingredient and side effects. Doses are set by weight and age and given at the stated intervals.

Does teething cause a high fever? Teething may cause irritability but not a high fever. Do not explain a significant fever by teething alone, because an infection that needs assessment may be hidden.

When can my child go back to nursery or school? When the child has had no fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medicines, is drinking, is eating according to appetite and feels well enough for activity. For specific illnesses follow the advice of the doctor and the health authority.

How the cause is sought

The pediatrician examines the ears, throat, lungs, abdomen and other signs as appropriate. A urinary infection can present with fever and no clear complaints on urination. Blood tests, urine tests or hospital investigation are chosen according to risk. A positive test for a virus does not completely exclude an accompanying bacterial infection.

Care at Tirana Polyclinic: We offer pediatric consultation and interpretation of test results as needed. When the condition or age requires hospital treatment, the child is referred immediately to the appropriate service.