Fever Advice Sheet for Parents who's child is not admitted

Cork Emergency Departments

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You should:

• Offer your child regular fluids (where a baby or child is breastfed the most appropriate fluid is breast milk).
• Look for signs of dehydration by looking for the following features:
  • sunken fontanelle
  • dry mouth
  • sunken eyes
  • absence of tears
  • poor overall appearance
• Encourage your child to drink more fluids and consider seeking further advice if they detect signs of dehydration.
• Ask the ED staff or your local doctor how to identify a non-blanching rash.
• Check your child during the night.
• Keep your child away from nursery or school while the child's fever persists but to notify the school or nursery of the illness.

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When to seek further help.

Following contact with a healthcare professional, you should seek further advice if:

• Your child has a fit.
• Your child develops a non-blanching rash.
• You feels that the child is less well than when they previously sought advice.
• You are more worried than when they previously sought advice.
• The fever lasts longer then 5 days.
• You are is distressed, or concerned that you are unable to look after your child.

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