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For free medical advice call Healthline 0800 611 116. Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, over-the-phone health service. For emergencies call 111.  

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Fever animation

Caption and credit

Fever in children animation in English.
Source: KidsHealth

transcribeTranscript

Fevers are common in tamariki.

They are usually caused by viruses.

A fever is a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher.

Fever is a normal way for a child to fight an infection.

Pēpi under 3 months old with a fever need to see a health professional urgently.

If your child is miserable with a fever, you can give paracetamol to make them more comfortable.

Follow the instructions on the bottle.

Encourage your child to drink fluids.

You know your child best, if you are worried at any stage, always seek help.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or take your child to a health professional if they have a fever and:

  • are in pain or
  • are taking less than half of their normal feeds or
  • are vomiting or
  • have frequent watery poo or
  • you are worried

Take your child to a health professional urgently if your child has a fever and:

  • is under 3 months old or
  • looks unwell or
  • is hard to wake or
  • is not interested in surroundings or
  • is having trouble breathing or
  • is in severe pain or
  • is upset by bright lights or
  • is not drinking or
  • is vomiting and not keeping fluids down or
  • has a rash or
  • you are worried

Call 111 if your child has a fever and:

  • is floppy or
  • is blue around the mouth or
  • is struggling to breathe or
  • is unresponsive or
  • you are worried

Always go back to a health professional or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if your child is getting worse or you are worried.

Caption and credit

Fever in children animation in te reo Māori.
Source: KidsHealth

transcribeTranscript

E kitea nuitia ana ngā kirikā i te tamariki.

I te nuinga o te wā ka takea mai i ngā huaketo.

Ko te kirikā ko te paemahana o te 38 waeine tohurau, nui ake rānei.

Ko te kirikā ko te ara noa kia whawhai te tamaiti i te pokenga.

Me kōhukihuki te toro atu a ngā pēpi iti iho i te 3 marama te pakeke ki te ngaio hauora.

Mēnā e tūreikura ana tō tamaiti i te pāngia ki te kirikā, e pai ana te hoatu te paracetamol kia āhuru ake ia.

Whāia ngā tohutohu i te pātara.

Ākina tō tamaiti ki te inu wē.

Ko koe te mea tino mōhio ki tō tamaiti, mēnā e āwangawanga ana koe ahakoa te wā

... me kimi āwhina i ngā wā katoa.

Waea ki Healthline ki 0800 611 116, kawea rānei tō tamaiti ki tētahi ngaio hauora mēnā e pāngia ana ia e te kirikā, ā:

  • kei te mamae ia, tērā rānei
  • he iti iho i te haurua o āna kai noa e kaingia ana, tērā rānei
  • kei te ruaki ia, tērā rānei
  • he auau te tiko, he nui te wai i roto, tērā rānei
  • kei te āwangawanga koe

Me kōhukihuki te kawe atu i tō tamaiti ki tētahi ngaio hauora mēnā ...

... e pāngia ana tō tamaiti e te kirikā, ā:

  • he iti iho i te 3 marama te pakeke, tērā rānei
  • he māuiui tōna āhua, tērā rānei
  • he uaua te whakaoho i a ia, tērā rānei
  • kāore ia i te aro mai ki ngā mea e karapoti ana i a ia, tērā rānei
  • he uaua ki a ia te hēhē, tērā rānei
  • e tino mamae ana ia, tērā rānei
  • ka auhi ia i ngā rama kanapa, tērā rānei
  • kāore i te inu, tērā rānei
  • kei te ruaki ia, kāore i te noho tonu ngā inu i te puku, tērā rānei
  • ka pāngia e te kōpukupuku, tērā rānei
  • kei te āwangawanga koe

Waea ki 111 mēnā e pāngia ana tō tamaiti ki te kirikā, ā:

  • he pītawitawi ia, tērā rānei
  • he kahurangi i ngā taha o te waha, tērā rānei
  • e oke ana ia ki te hēhē, tērā rānei
  • kāore ia i te urupare, i te neke rānei, tērā rānei
  • kei te āwangawanga koe

Me mātua hoki atu koe ki tētahi ngaio hauora, me waea rānei ki Healthline ki 0800 611 116 mēnā e kino haere ana te pāngia a tō tamaiti, mēnā e āwangawanga ana koe rānei.

Caption and credit

Fever in children animation in Samoan.
Source: KidsHealth

transcribeTranscript

O le fiva e masani ona maua ai tamaiti.

E tele ina mafua mai siama.

E fua le vevela poo le fiva i le 38 tikeri pe maualuga atu fo‘i.

O le fiva o se auala masani lea mo se tamaititi e tetee atu ai i se faamai.

O tamaiti pepe i lalo ifo o le 3 masina le matutua e maua i le fiva, e tatau ona va‘ai vave se foma‘i tausoifua maloloina.

A tigaina lau tama i le fiva, faainu se paracetamol e faafilemu lelei ai.

Mulimuli i faatonuga o loo i le fagu.

Ia faamalosia tamaiti e inu vai.

Afai e te popole i soo se tulaga, o lena ua e silafia lelei lau tamaititi

... ia saili i taimi uma se fesoasoani.

Valaau le Healthline i le 0800 611 116 pe ave lau tama i le foma‘i tausoifua maloloina pe a maua i le fiva ma:

  • ua iai ni mea tigâ pe
  • ua i lalo ifo o le afa lana meaai nai lo lana ai masani pe
  • ua faasuati pe
  • suâvaia soo lana fea‘u mamao pe
  • ua e popole tele

Ave faavave lau tama i le foma‘i tausoifua maloloina pe afai ...

... ua fiva lau tama ma:

  • o loo i lalo ifo o le 3 masina lona matua pe
  • ua foliga lê manuia pe
  • ua faigatā ona lala pe
  • ua lē fiafia i mea i ona autafa pe
  • ua faigatā ona mânava pe
  • ua tigaina tele pe
  • ua ita pe a malamalama tele pe
  • ua lē inu pe
  • ua faasuati ma lē mafai na folo se vai pe
  • ua mageso pe
  • ua e popole tele

Valaau le 111 pe afai ua fiva lau tama ma:

  • ua galemu le tino pe
  • ua lanu moana autafa o le gutu pe
  • ua faigatā ona mānava pe
  • ua lē tali mai pe
  • ua e popole tele

Afai ua faasolo ina tigaina lau tama ma ua e popole tele, toe vaai le sui faafomai pe valaau i le Healthline i le 0800 611 116.

Caption and credit

Fever in children animation in Tongan.
Source: KidsHealth

transcribeTranscript

‘Oku angamaheni pē ke puke ‘a e fānaú ‘i he mofí.

‘Oku fa‘a fakatupunga ia ‘e ha ngaahi vailasi.

Ko e mofí ko ha fua māfana tikilī Selisiasi ‘e 38 (degrees Celsius) pe lahi ange.

Ko e mofí ko ha founga angamaheni pē ia ki hono tau‘i ‘e ha ki‘i leka ha mahaki (infection).

‘Oku fiema‘u ke ‘ave fakavavevave ‘a e fanga ki‘i pēpē ‘i lalo hifo ‘i he māhina ‘e 3 ‘oku nau mofí ke sio ki ai ha tokotaha ngāue palofesinale ki he mo‘ui leleí.

Kapau ‘oku faingata‘a‘ia ho‘o tamá ‘i he mofí, te ke ala ‘oange ha paracetamol ke ne fiemālie ange ai.

Muimui ki he ngaahi fakahinohino ‘i he fo‘i hiná.

Faka‘ai‘ai ho‘o tamá ke inu ha huhu‘a inu (fluids).

Ko koe pē ‘okú ke ‘ilo‘i lelei taha ho‘o tamá, kapau ‘e ‘i ai ha taimi te ke hoha‘a ai

… kumi ma‘u pē ha tokoni.

Telefoni ki he Healthline ‘i he fika on 0800 611 116 pe ‘ave ho‘o tamá ki ha tokotaha ngāue palofesinale ki he mo‘ui leleí kapau ‘oku mofi mo:

  • felāngaaki pe
  • si‘isi‘i ange ‘ene kaí ‘i he vaeua ‘o e lahi ‘o ‘ene kai angamahení pe
  • ‘oku lua pe
  • fa‘a vai ‘ene tu‘umama‘ó pe
  • ‘okú ke hoha‘a

‘Ave ho‘o tamá ki ha tokotaha ngāue palofesinale ki he mo‘ui leleí ‘i he vave tahá kapau …

… ‘oku mofi ho‘o tamá pea:

  • si‘i hifo ‘i he māhina ‘e 3 pe
  • mata‘i puke pe
  • ‘oku faingata‘a ke faka‘aaki pe
  • ‘oku ‘ikai fiefie tokanga ki he ngaahi ‘ātakaí pe
  • ‘oku faingata‘a ke ne mānava pe
  • ‘oku felāngaaki lahi pe
  • ‘oku popongi‘ia ‘i he maama ulo lahí pe
  • ‘oku ‘ikai ke fie inu pe
  • ‘oku lua mo ‘ikai fa‘a mapukepuke ‘a e ngaahi me‘a huhu‘á ‘i loto pe
  • ‘oku fepulopulasi hono kilí pe
  • ‘okú ke hoha‘a

Telefoni ki he 111 kapau ‘oku mofi ho‘o tamá pea:

  • ‘oku ngāvaivai hono sinó pe
  • takataka‘uli takatakai ‘a e ngutú pe
  • fiu fakatau ‘a e mānavá pe
  • ‘oku ‘ikai ke toe ngaue hake pe
  • ‘okú ke hoha‘a

Foki ma‘u pē ki ha tokotaha ngāue palofesinale ki he mo‘ui leleí pe telefoni ki he Healthline ‘i he fika 0800 611 116 kapau ‘oku faka‘au ke lahi ange ‘a e puke ho‘o tamá pe ‘okú ke hoha‘a.

Watch an animation on fever in children in your preferred language.

Key points about fever in children

  • a fever is a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius
  • a fever is usually caused by a virus (like a cold)
  • fever is a normal way for a child to fight an infection
  • if your baby with a fever is under 3 months old, always see a health professional urgently
  • fever by itself does not tell you whether your child is seriously sick
  • you know your child best, if you’re worried at any stage, always seek help

What is fever?

Fever is a normal way for a child to fight an infection.

Normal temperature

Your child's normal body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius.

A fever

Your child has a fever if their temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or higher.

A high fever

A high fever usually means more than 38.5 degrees Celsius.

Being hot may make your child feel unhappy or uncomfortable, but the high temperature is very unlikely to cause any long-term problems.

What the number on the thermometer can't tell you

Fever by itself does not tell you whether your child is seriously sick.

If your child is miserable and seems unwell, and feels hot, you can use a thermometer to take their temperature. You don't need to do this if your child seems well.

The number on the thermometer cannot tell you:

  • what is causing the fever
  • how sick your child is

Thermometers - How To Use Them 

Causes of fever

The most common cause of a fever in a child is a viral infection. Bacterial infections can also cause a fever.

The body's natural reaction to infection with a virus or bacteria is to raise the temperature inside the body. This helps to kill the infection.

Other causes of fever include:

  • vaccination
  • wrapping a baby in too many warm layers of clothing, or bedding

When to get medical help for a fever

If you are worried about your child, whether or not there is a fever, take them to see a health professional or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

If your child has already seen a health professional but they are getting worse, go back to a health professional.

Call Healthline or see a health professional

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or see a health professional if your child with a fever:

  • is drinking less than half of their normal feeds
  • has less than half of their normal wet nappies
  • has a sore throat
  • is vomiting
  • has frequent, watery poo (diarrhoea)
  • is in pain
  • is getting sicker
  • you're worried

See a health professional urgently

See a health professional urgently if your child with a fever:

  • is under 3 months old
  • has an unusual high-pitched cry
  • looks unwell
  • is hard to wake
  • is not interested in surroundings
  • is having trouble breathing
  • is in severe pain
  • has a severe headache
  • is upset by bright lights
  • is not drinking
  • is vomiting and not keeping fluids down
  • has a rash
  • you're worried

Call 111

Call 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help if your child:

  • is floppy
  • is blue around the mouth
  • is struggling to breathe
  • is unresponsive
  • you're worried

Babies less than 3 months old

If your baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, take them to a health professional urgently.

Pēpi (babies) get fevers for the same reasons as older tamariki, but they are not as good at fighting off infections.

If you are worried about them, take them to a health professional even if they do not have a fever.

Caring for a child with a fever

You can look after your child with a fever at home if they:

  • are drinking and feeding well
  • are still interacting with you
  • do not look sick

Cooling cares

Undress your child so that they are just wearing a single layer (maybe a singlet and pants). Make sure the room is not too hot or too cold. These are the best and most comfortable ways to bring your child's temperature down. It's best not to give your child a bath or shower to cool them. You could use a cool face cloth.

Rest and fluids

Your child may need extra rest or they may want to play - this is OK.

Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. Offer them small amounts often. Your child may not feel like eating much. Their appetite will return as they start to get better.

Medicines

If your child is happy, and they are not unwell, you do not need to do anything more. You do not need to treat the fever with medicine.

Paracetamol

If your child is miserable because of the fever, you can give paracetamol to make them more comfortable. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.

Other medicine

If your health professional gives your child ibuprofen, use it only if your child with a fever is miserable.

Don't give your child cold and flu medicines.

Never give your child aspirin as this may increase the risk of Reye syndrome, which is a rare and serious illness.

Febrile seizures

A small number of tamariki have seizures when they have fevers.

Febrile Seizures In Children

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Healthline logo with phonenumber on it
Healthline

Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.

Call Healthline 0800 611 116

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