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Toddler fever at night

Check, comfort and watch overnight, and know when to call for help right away.

31 items · 6 sections · health, fever, family, kids

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Call an ambulance if your child (8)

  • Has a stiff neck, or is bothered by light
  • Has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it
  • Has a first fit, or cannot stop shaking
  • Has blue, grey or very pale skin, lips or tongue
  • Has unusually cold hands and feet
  • Is drowsy and hard to wake, very agitated or confused, or won't stop crying
  • Has trouble breathing, breathes very fast, grunts or the chest sucks in
  • Call 911 US, 999 UK, 112 or 108 India

Check (4)

  • Use a digital thermometer in the armpit, arm held closed38°C (100.4°F) or more is a fever. Wait a few minutes after a bath or blankets.
  • Write down the time and the reading
  • Note any rash, cough, ear pain, vomiting or diarrhoea
  • Note how they drink and how wet their nappies are

Care overnight (5)

  • Offer plenty of drinks, and keep up breastfeeding if you do
  • Offer food only if they want it
  • Light clothes and normal bedding, not too many layers
  • Do not undress them or sponge them to cool them down
  • Check on them regularly through the night

Medicine, only if they are distressed (5)

  • Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help. Follow the packet by age and weightOr ask a pharmacist.
  • Never give aspirin to under-16s
  • Do not alternate the two unless a health worker tells you to
  • Asthma, chickenpox or dehydrated? Do not give ibuprofen unless a doctor said so
  • Write down what you gave and when

Call a doctor or nurse line if (6)

  • Under 3 months at 38°C or more, or 3-6 months at 39°C or moreVery young babies: call right away, even at night. UK: call 111.
  • Fever with other signs of illness, such as a rash
  • Fever for 5 days or more
  • Won't eat, or is not themselves, and you are worried
  • Fewer wet nappies, sunken eyes or no tears
  • Medicine does not help, or your gut tells you something is wrong

In the morning (3)

  • Keep them home while they are unwell
  • Take your notes to any doctor's visit
  • Keep a thermometer in your home kit

Written from www.nhs.uk

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