Fever in children: home care and danger signs

Most fevers in children are harmless and caused by mild infections. Some fevers, though, are a sign of serious illness, such as dengue or meningitis. This guide explains how to care for a child with a fever at home and how to tell when you need help quickly.

What counts as a fever?

The NHS (the UK’s national health service) says a high temperature in children is 38°C (100.4°F) or more. A normal temperature varies a little from child to child. A child with a high temperature may feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest. They may also feel sweaty or look unwell.

Fever is not an illness in itself. It is the body’s way of fighting infection. If your child feels hot, NHS hospital advice is to check their temperature with a thermometer.

Common causes

Infections are the usual cause. The NHS says illnesses like colds and chickenpox can cause a high temperature. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics.
Dengue is a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, and it is a major concern in Bangladesh. The DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) dengue dashboard records cases in children of all ages in 2026. UNICEF says dengue can cause a sudden high fever of up to 40°C (104°F), along with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea or vomiting.

Caring for your child at home

If your child has none of the warning signs listed below, you can usually look after them at home. How your child is compared with their usual self matters more than the exact temperature.

Give plenty of fluids

Offer drinks often.
If you breastfeed, keep going. NHS hospital advice says breast milk is the best drink for a breastfed baby.

Keep them comfortable, not bundled up

The NHS advises against covering a child with too many clothes or bedclothes. MedlinePlus (from the US National Library of Medicine) warns that overdressing a child can even make their temperature go up. Do not dress them too lightly either.
Several NHS hospitals say lukewarm (tepid) sponging is not recommended. It does not bring a fever down and may make your child uncomfortable.

About fever medicines

A fever does not always need medicine. NHS hospital advice says a child with a high temperature who seems well may not need any. If you are thinking about giving a medicine, ask a doctor or pharmacist which one suits your child, and follow the label exactly. MedlinePlus says to contact a doctor before giving any medicine to a baby under 3 months old.

Check on your child regularly

The NHS advises checking on your child regularly. MedlinePlus says to contact a doctor if your child does not become more alert or comfortable when the fever comes down.

Watch for dehydration

Dehydration means the body has lost too much fluid. The NHS and MedlinePlus list signs that include:

Dry skin, lips or tongue
No tears when crying
Sunken eyes
Nappies that are not very wet, passing urine less often, or dark yellow urine

MedlinePlus advises contacting a doctor if a child has had no wet nappies or has not passed urine in the past 8 hours.

Danger signs: get urgent medical care

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if your child has a fever and any of the following. This list is based on NHS guidance:

A fit or seizure for the first time (shaking they cannot stop)
Drowsy and hard to wake, or confused
Difficulty breathing: breathing very fast, breathlessness, grunting, or the stomach sucking in under the ribs
Blue, grey, paler than usual or blotchy skin, lips or tongue (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
Unusually cold hands and feet
A stiff neck, or being bothered by light
A rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
Extreme agitation, or crying that will not stop
Not responding as they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities

The WHO’s guidelines for health workers on sick children (called IMCI) classify any child with fever and a general danger sign or a stiff neck as having a very severe febrile disease.

Dengue warning signs

UNICEF Bangladesh warns that severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away. So do not relax just because the temperature has dropped. Get urgent care if your child has:

Severe stomach pain or vomiting that keeps happening
Bleeding gums or nose, or blood in vomit or stools
Fast breathing, restlessness, tiredness, weakness, sleepiness or irritability
Pale, cold skin, or great thirst

See a doctor soon (same day)

Contact a doctor the same day if your child:

Situation	Advice
Under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher	See a doctor urgently
3 to 6 months old with a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) or higher	See a doctor the same day
Fever lasting 5 days or more (NHS), or more than 48 hours in a child under 2 (MedlinePlus)	See a doctor to find the cause
Other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a fever	See a doctor
Signs of dehydration, not wanting to eat, or not their usual self	See a doctor

What to do during a febrile seizure

A febrile seizure is a fit caused by a high temperature. NHS advice:

Note the time the seizure starts and ends.
Protect their head with your hands or something soft, and move any dangerous objects away.
Do not put anything in their mouth.
When the seizure ends, put your child in the recovery position (on their side) and make sure nothing in their mouth or throat could affect their breathing.
Take your child to hospital straight away if it is their first seizure. Get emergency help if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.

Which doctor should you see?

Paediatrician (child specialist, shishu bishesoggo): the main specialist for children with fever, especially if it lasts several days, keeps coming back or comes with other symptoms.
Neonatologist (newborn specialist): for fever or illness in newborn babies.
Hospital emergency department: for any danger sign listed above. Do not wait for an appointment.

For phone advice, you can call the government health helpline Shasthyo Batayon 16263. The IEDCR (Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research) describes it as a 24-hour, 7-day helpline. After dialling, press 0 for a doctor’s advice. A phone call does not replace emergency care when danger signs are present.

Preventing dengue

UNICEF Bangladesh notes that Aedes mosquitoes breed in water containers, drains, yards and puddles around homes. Steps that help include:

Removing standing water around the home
Covering stored water with a lid
Sleeping under a mosquito net
Dressing children in full-sleeved clothes that cover their arms and legs

This article is for general information. It does not replace advice from a qualified doctor who has examined your child.

Find a doctor

Browse Child Diseases doctors in Bangladesh on ratings.com.bd, with chambers and, where listed, visiting hours and phone numbers.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. It was written by AI from the sources above. It did not pass the automatic check, and an administrator chose to publish it; no doctor or editor has reviewed it. For a diagnosis or treatment, see a registered doctor.