Nothing will relieve your baby’s fever faster or for longer than nurofen for children.
Fever
A fever is usually the first sign that your child is fighting illness - it is a symptom rather than an illness in itself. You'll probably notice that your child's temperature rises (anything above 37.8°C is classed as a fever). This rise in temperature - caused by chemicals called pyrogens - is the body's way of attempting to kill any infective agents in your child's system.
Recognising the signs
Symptoms can vary according to the underlying cause of a fever, but your baby or child may be:
- Hot and flushed all over
- Pale with cool hands and feet but have a hot forehead, tummy and back
- Irritable/crying and lethargic
- Lose their appetite
- Shivering uncontrollably
- Restless - particularly during the night
- Vomit suddenly
Common causes of a fever in babies and children include cold and flu, infected cuts or grazes, mumps, chicken pox, urinary or kidney infections, measles and as a response to an immunisation.
What can you do to help?
Most fevers are not serious and tend to go away on their own once the illness or infection clears up. In the meantime though there are some things you can do to help make your child feel more comfortable by trying to bring the fever down:
- Offer drinks and food, even though you might be turned down (it is important children stay hydrated - every sip counts!)
- Offer some medicine such as Nurofen for Children*. It contains ibuprofen to reduce fever for up to 2 hours longer than paracetamol - in fact nothing works quicker or lasts for longer in fever than Nurofen for Children.
*(For babies and children from 3 months and over 5kg. Always read the label).
Cause for concern?
You should seek medical advice if:
- The fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, confusion or irritability
- Your child is under six months
- Your child is between the ages of six months and one year and the fever lasts longer than 24 hours
- The fever lasts longer than two days despite treatment
- The fever stays above 38.5°C for longer than two hours
- The fever goes above 39°C
