What temperature is 'a fever' in children?

A normal temperature is between 36-36.8C (96.8-98.24F).

In children, any temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above is considered high and is classed as a fever.

To find out if your child has a fever, place a thermometer under your child's armpit or use a special ear thermometer.

Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. Fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Conditions that can cause fevers are:

• flu,
• ear infections,
• roseola (a virus causing a temperature and rash),
• tonsillitis,
• kidney or urinary infections, or
• any of the common childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, chickenpox and whooping cough.

Occasionally, a high temperature can happen if a young child (especially newborn) is overdressed in a hot environment because they can't regulate their own body temperature.

Teething may also cause a slight rise in body temperature. Babies and children can sometimes get a fever within 48 hours of being immunized.

Care at home

Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant acetaminophen.

Getting help

If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.

If the child is unusually sleepy, won't take fluids or has other worrying symptoms, such as an unusual rash, headache, neck stiffness or difficulty breathing, see your doctor or take your child to the hospital immediately.

Febrile convulsions are fits (seizures) that sometimes happen in children (between 6 months and 6 years) who have high temperature. They can happen as a result of any illness that causes a high temperature, over 39C (102F) and can be worrying for parents because they look similar to an epileptic fit.

Seek medical advice immediately and if the fit goes on for more than 4- 5 minutes, call 911 for an ambulance.