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My child has a fever - when is it an emergency?

Emergency numbers: 108 ambulance · 112 national emergency · Poison centre (AIIMS, 24x7): 1800-116-117

Quick answer: Fever itself is usually the body fighting an infection, and most fevers are not dangerous. The number matters less than how your child looks and behaves. The big exception: any baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or more needs a doctor immediately, even if they look fine.

🟢 GREEN - You can usually watch at home when

  • Your child is over 3 months old, is drinking fluids, and plays or interacts with you (even if grumpy).
  • The fever comes down with paracetamol and your child perks up after the medicine.
  • It is a mild fever with a cold or cough and your child is otherwise acting close to normal.

Keep offering fluids often. Dress your child lightly. Check on them regularly, including at night.

🟡 YELLOW - Call your paediatrician today if

  • The fever lasts more than 24 hours in a child under 2 years, or more than 3 days (72 hours) in a child 2 years or older.
  • Your child still "acts sick" even after the fever comes down.
  • Your child seems to be getting worse instead of better.
  • Your child has a fever along with ear pain, sore throat, pain while passing urine, or any new symptom that worries you.
  • Your child is between 3 and 6 months old with a temperature of 38.3°C (101°F) or more.

🔴 RED - Go to the emergency room NOW if

  • Your baby is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or more. Do not give medicine first and watch - just go.
  • Your child is unusually drowsy, difficult to wake, or confused.
  • Your child has a seizure (fit). If it lasts more than 5 minutes, call 108.
  • Your child has trouble breathing, or breathing that is much faster than normal.
  • Your child has a rash that does not fade when you press it (press a clear glass against it - if the spots do not blanch, that is an emergency).
  • Your child has a stiff neck or severe headache with the fever.
  • Your child shows signs of dehydration: very little urine, no tears, dry mouth, refusing all fluids.
  • The fever repeatedly rises above 40°C (104°F).
  • Your child has a weakened immune system (cancer treatment, steroids, sickle cell disease, or other immunity problems) - a fever in these children is always urgent.

🆘 SOS - What to do while you get help

  • Keep your child cool and lightly dressed. Do not bundle them up.
  • Give small sips of water, ORS, milk or any fluid they will take.
  • You may give paracetamol in the dose your paediatrician has told you for your child's weight. It eases discomfort; it does not treat the cause.
  • If your child has a seizure, lay them on their side on a safe surface and time it. Do not put anything in their mouth.

❌ DO NOT

  • Do not ignore a fever of 38.0°C or more in a baby under 3 months - this is the single most dangerous fever rule to break.
  • Do not give aspirin to a child - it can cause a rare but serious illness (Reye's syndrome).
  • Do not use cold-water baths, ice packs or alcohol rubs. They make children shiver and feel worse.
  • Do not give antibiotics left over at home without a doctor's advice.
  • Do not wait for a fever to "break on its own" if your child looks very unwell - trust what you see, not just the thermometer.

What is happening and why

Fever is a symptom, not a disease - it is the body turning up its thermostat to fight infection. Most childhood fevers are caused by common viral infections and settle in a few days. What doctors watch for are the few serious causes (like sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia or a urine infection), and those usually announce themselves through how the child looks and behaves: drowsiness, breathing trouble, refusing fluids, a non-blanching rash. That is why your child's behaviour matters more than the exact number.

For babies under 3 months, the rules are stricter because their immune systems are new and they cannot show clear signs. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a dedicated guideline for fever in babies 8 to 60 days old, and those babies need blood and urine tests to rule out serious infection even when they look well.

This page is for first-aid education and does not replace examination by a doctor. In an emergency, call 108 or 112.

Sources (last checked 13 Sep 2026)

Reviewed and approved by Dr Anjana Alekhya, MD (Paediatrics) · Published 13 September 2026