Fever in Children

A fever is a high body temperature, usually over 38°C. It is the body’s natural response to an infection. 

Fever is very common in children, and in most cases, it is not harmful. However, it can sometimes lead to febrile convulsions (seizures) in some children. 

A febrile convulsion is a seizure triggered by fever, typically in children between 6 months and 6 years old. 

During a convulsion, your child may: 

• Go stiff or jerk uncontrollably 

• Lose consciousness 

• Roll their eyes or stop breathing briefly 

Most febrile convulsions are short (less than 5 minutes) and do not cause long-term harm. 

• Viral infections  

• Bacterial infections  

• Immunisations 

• Teething (minor fevers) 

• Keep your child comfortable – don’t over-wrap 

• Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration 

• Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat discomfort  

• Let them rest, but they don’t have to stay in bed 

• Stay calm and lay them on their side 

• Do not put anything in their mouth 

• Call 999 if it lasts longer than 5 minutes 

Seek urgent help if your child has: 

• Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes 

• Difficulty breathing 

• Pale, blue, or mottled skin 

• Rash that doesn’t fade with pressure 

• Unusual drowsiness or hard to wake 

• High-pitched or weak crying 

• Bulging fontanelle (soft spot on baby’s head) 

• Not drinking or peeing for over 12 hours 

• Vomiting repeatedly or severe diarrhoea 

For non-emergencies, call NHS 24 on 111 or speak to your GP. 

For most children, febrile convulsions do not lead to epilepsy. The risk of developing epilepsy later is: 

• About 1 in 50 after a simple febrile convulsion 

• Slightly higher (about 1 in 20) if the seizure was prolonged, complicated, or if there's a family history