Fever

If your child has a temperature of over 37.5°C (measured orally), chances are your child has a fever. This is very common, and in most cases the symptoms will clear up on their own.79,80

Temperature taking

There are various ways to take children’s temperature and check for symptoms of fever:80

• Orally. The thermometer is inserted under the tongue, the mouth is closed and a reading is taken.
• Rectally. The thermometer is gently inserted into the rectum (child’s bottom) and a reading is taken.
• Armpits. The thermometer is placed under the armpit and the arm is held against the side of the body while a reading is taken.
• Ears. A digital thermometer is inserted into the ear and a reading is taken.

It is important to remember that the temperature can vary according to the part of the body where it is measured, so always take the temperature at the same site. 

A fever is the body’s way of helping your child fight off infections and illnesses. It works by raising the temperature and making it difficult for bacteria and viruses such as the flu virus to thrive. You should seek medical help in managing the fever if your child:79-82

• is under six months of age and has baby fever
• has a high fever of over 40°C
• has convulsions
• acts very sick, or is lethargic and difficult to wake
• has a stiff neck, headache, rash, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
• has a fever that has not changed in over two days
• has loss of appetite or stomach pain
• has earache
• has difficulty breathing
• cries inconsolably