Children's health | 4 min read
Child fever at night: what to do until the clinic opens
Simple steps for parents, and the signs that mean you should go to the emergency right away.
By Dr. Bilal Ahmed, City Care Clinic (demo)
Fever is the body's way of fighting an infection. Most fevers in children are from viral infections and get better in a few days. What matters most is how your child looks and behaves, not only the number on the thermometer.
What you can do at home
- Give plenty of fluids: water, ORS, milk or breastfeeds
- Dress the child in light clothes and keep the room airy
- Give paracetamol in the dose for your child's weight, as written on the bottle or advised by your doctor
- Note the temperature and times, and bring the notes to the clinic
Go to the emergency right away if
- Your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever
- Your child has trouble breathing or the lips look blue
- Your child is very drowsy, hard to wake up or has a fit
- There is a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it
- Your child has not passed urine for 8 hours or more
Book a check-up
If the fever lasts more than 2 days, or you are worried, book a visit with the child specialist.
Sample article on a demo website, for general information only. It is not medical advice: always ask your own doctor. In an emergency call 1122.