NHS doctor shares important message to parents whose kids have fever (2025)

Dr Lillie Parker, an NHS paediatrician, has shared her advice on fevers in children, revealing there are three key things that all parents should be aware of

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An NHS paediatrician has taken to social media to share three key points she believes "all parents should know" when it comes to children experiencing a fever.

A fever is the body's response to an infection or illness and is generally considered as a temperature above 38C (100.4F). A variety of health problems can cause a high temperature in children, including common childhood diseases such as chickenpox and tonsillitis, and even a reaction to vaccinations.

While children often recover from fevers naturally within one to four days, it's not a symptom to be ignored as it could be an indicator of something more serious, like sepsis. Doctor Lillie Parker used TikTok to share her advice on the topic.

Fever is a symptom, not a diagnosis

"Fever is the bodies response to an infection and a way of making the body a more challenging place for pathogens to live," Dr Parker started. "Therefore fever is not always a bad thing and can be a useful tool to aid recovery! A huge array of viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections can cause fever."

It's not about the number, it's about how your child looks

While we've already mentioned the temperature that constitutes a fever, Dr Parker says how sufferers handle a high temperature varies from child to child. "Some children will have a fever of 40C, but be coping well, not in pain and managing to still play and drink," she clarified.

However, other children can really struggle with a temperature of 38.5C. "Don't fixate on the number - assess your child's other signs and symptoms to work out when to seek help," Dr Parker added.

When to give medication

"Whilst some children will benefit from medications like paracetamol (Calpol) and Ibuprofen (Neurofen) to reduce fever - you do not have to treat fever if your child is otherwise managing okay with their illness," Dr Parker advised in her third and final point.

Instead, she emphasises the importance of "focusing on pain and discomfort" as a means of deciding when to give medication. "Treating fever has been shown to neither reduce the length of illness or the chance of febrile convulsions," she closed.

Writing in response, one TikTok user begged: "Can EVERYONE please read this. I'm sick of arguing with people on TikTok about how a high fever is not automatically going to cause a febrile seizure." A second person recalled: "Need more awareness of febrile seizures. My son had one when he had tonsillitis and I had no idea at all what it was. Worst few mins of my life. Ambulance crew were faultless that day."

Whilst a third said: "My child with a 40 degree temperature was looking absolutely, fine acting fine yet had a really bad UTI." And a fourth person shared their stance: "Both of my children have been intubated due to febrile convulsions, I would never not medicate for a temperature."

The NHS' website provides a comprehensive guide to child fever, including symptoms to watch for, when to ring 111 or your GP, and in severe cases, when you should call 999. For further details, click here.