Drs John Coffin and David Acorn
Family Medical Practice

Self Help

Fever

This section gives advice on how to reduce someone's high temperature, this is more important in children under the age of five because they are more prone to having a fit with a temperature.

Someone with a temperature can feel cold and shivery as well as hot and sweaty.

• remove clothing

• give paracetamol in the appropriate dose according to the bottle

• sponge the child down with lukewarm water

• give extra fluids to replace those lost by sweating

• use an electric fan if available

It is OK to give paracetamol with antibiotics, ibuprofen and any other medicine as long as it doesn't contain paracetamol as well (Patients on warfarin should ask for medical advice).

Contact the surgery in normal opening hours if 

• the fever has gone on for three days or there are other causes for concern.

Contact a doctor "out of hours" if 

• the patient is obviously unwell, drowsy or confused

• if you are concerned the patient may have meningitis

• if there are other symptoms that are causing concern

• if the patient has been to a country where there is a risk of malaria, in the last 12 months

See the meningitis trust website if you want to know about meningitis

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