Children · 4 min read · Updated October 2026
Fever in children: what to do at home and when to worry
Most fevers in children pass on their own. Here is how to keep a child comfortable, and the signs that need a doctor.
Clinician review pending This article is awaiting sign-off by a doctor.
A fever is a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. It is the body's normal response to infection and is not dangerous in itself. What matters is how the child looks and behaves, and whether there are other signs.
At home
Offer fluids often: breast milk for babies, water, oral rehydration solution (ORS) or diluted juice for older children. Dress the child lightly and keep the room cool. Paracetamol at the dose for the child's weight can ease discomfort; do not give aspirin to children. Do not sponge with cold water or alcohol; it causes shivering and does not help.
Get a malaria test
In malaria areas, any child with a fever should have a rapid test the same day. Treat only after a positive result, unless a health worker advises otherwise.
See a doctor today if
The child is under 3 months old with any fever; the fever lasts more than 2 days; the child is drinking much less or has fewer wet nappies; there is a rash that does not fade when pressed; there is ear pain, a stiff neck or severe headache; or you are simply worried. Parents are usually right to be concerned.
Go to a hospital now if
The child has a fit, is very drowsy or hard to wake, is breathing fast or with the chest pulling in, has blue or grey lips, cannot drink or is vomiting everything, or has a bulging soft spot (fontanelle) on the head.
How Telafia can help
A paediatrician or GP can look at your child over video, guide you on fluids and medicine doses, and tell you whether to go in for a test or examination.
Emergency numbers
767 works in Lagos State; 112 is the national number. Numbers change: please check locally. If a number does not connect, go straight to the nearest hospital.
Related doctors
Questions about this? A paediatrics doctor can help today.