High fever in children
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
Fever in children is often harmless but needs careful monitoring because of the risk of febrile seizures.
What to do
• Measure the temperature rectally (most accurate in babies) or under the arm
• Give the child paracetamol according to weight — check the package leaflet
• Dress the child lightly — do not wrap them up
• Make sure they drink enough
• Check every hour and at any sign of deterioration
Do not do
• Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months
• Do not give aspirin to children
• Cool sponging is not proven effective and can cause chilling
Warning signs
• Febrile seizures — the child jerks with a high fever
• The child barely responds or will not wake up
• Fever in a baby younger than 3 months
Get help if
• A baby under 3 months with a fever — always see a doctor immediately
• A child with a febrile seizure for the first time
• Fever above 40°C in a child
Why this matters
Fever in young children can escalate quickly. A baby younger than 3 months with a fever is always a medical emergency.
Source: Nederlandse Kindergeneeskunde Richtlijnen · reviewed 2025-01-01