ASTROMEDICS Health Library · Updated 28 October 2026
General patient education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. A qualified clinician should assess your symptoms and advise you.
Look at the whole child
A child’s behaviour, breathing and ability to drink can tell you as much as a temperature reading. Younger babies may show illness through feeding changes or unusual sleepiness rather than clearly expressed symptoms.
A child’s age, alertness, breathing, drinking and urine output matter alongside temperature.
Difficulty breathing, unusual drowsiness, seizure, blue/pale/mottled skin or a non-fading rash are emergency signs.
Signs that need urgent help
Babies and young children may show illness through poor feeding, reduced wet nappies or unusual behaviour.
Seek urgent advice if a child is getting worse or caregivers are seriously concerned.
Preparing for the next step
Note the child’s age, when fever began, fluid intake and wet nappies or urine output. Seek urgent assessment when a child is worsening or you are seriously worried. Do not use this guide to decide medicine doses or delay help for a baby who is not feeding normally.
Questions for your consultation
- What is the likely cause, and are tests needed?
- Which changes mean I should bring my child back urgently?