• >> Your local pharmacist can help advise you on steps to take and medicines to help ease an upset stomach
• >> Antibiotics will not treat cold or flu symptoms, as these illnesses are caused by a viral infection not bacterial
• >> In most cases, fever is due to a common and harmless illness and will get better by itself within around 5 days
• >> A plaster is just for protection, it won't help the cut heal so only leave it on for between 24 and 48 hours
• >> A cough can last for up to 3 weeks and there is usually no need to see a doctor
• >> Feeling unwell but not sure what to do? Call NHS 111 – it's free and open 24 hours a day, every day
• >> Most people will be as good as new within 6-8 weeks of a sprain or strain

• What causes a high temperature or fever?

  Fevers can be caused by:

  • coughs and colds
  • flu
  • ear infections
  • tonsillitis
  • kidney or urinary infections
  • common childhood illnesses such as chickenpox and whooping cough
  • vaccinations
  • becoming overheated due to too much bedding or clothing – remember, children can’t regulate their body temperature like adults can.

  Did you know?

  A fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating the immune system (the body’s natural defense against infection and illness). By increasing the body’s temperature, a fever makes it more difficult for the bacteria and viruses that cause infections to survive.

• Recovery

  In most cases, fever is due to a common and harmless illness and will get better by itself within around 5 days.

• Treating a fever

  If you have a fever, the following steps will help you to treat it:

  • wearing light clothing
  • drinking plenty of water
  • resting
  • taking paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin (remember you shouldn’t give aspirin to anyone under the age of 16).

  To help reduce a child’s temperature you should:

  • give them plenty of cool water to drink. Even if they are not thirsty, try to get them to drink little and often to keep their fluid levels up
  • keep them cool - for example, covering them with a lightweight sheet rather than a thick duvet
  • keep their room cool - 18°C (65°F) is about right, open a window if you need to
  • give them children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen - You can’t give them both at the same time, but if one doesn’t work, you may want to try the other after four hours (please read the label on the medicine for more information).

  Did you know?

  If your child isn’t distressed by the fever or underlying illness then children’s painkillers may not be necessary. Always be sure to read the information leaflet for the medication to ensure you use the correct dosage for your child’s age.

• When to seek medical advice

  Here to help If your child seems to be well, other than having a high temperature (for example if they are playing and attentive as usual), it is less likely that they are seriously ill.
  
  Potentially serious causes of fever are rare. However, if you are worried and think your baby or child has a serious illness which is persisting and not responding to treatment with paracetamol or ibuprofen, it’s important to get medical attention as soon as possible.
  
  Contact your GP or call 111 for quick medical advice if you or your child have a fever along with any of the following:

  • the child is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or above
  • the child is between 3 and 6 months with a temperature of 39°C (102°F) or above
  • the child is over 6 months old with other signs of being unwell such as floppiness and drowsiness
  • cold feet and hands
  • a high-pitched, weak or continuous cry in young children
  • a lack of responsiveness, slower in activity or floppy, quiet or listless despite taking paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby’s head)
  • a stiff neck
  • not drinking for more than 8 hours (if you or your child hasn’t been eating solid food, this isn’t too worrying)
  • fits, convulsions or seizures
  • blue, very pale, mottled, blotchy or ashen/grey skin
  • difficulty breathing, fast breathing, grunting while breathing, or if your child seems to be struggling to breathe - for example, sucking their stomach in under their ribs
  • unusually drowsy, hard to wake up, unable to stay awake, doesn’t seem to recognise you or seem aware of what’s going on around them
  • severe abdominal pain
  • a cut that won’t stop bleeding or is gaping open
  • a leg or arm injury that means the limb can’t be used
  • a spotty purple-red rash anywhere on the body that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
  • repeated vomiting or green (bile-stained) sick
  • swallowed any poison, toxins or tablets.

If you're concerned about yourself, a relative or friend, call NHS 111 for medical advice, this free service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The advisors taking 111 calls are in the same room as those answering 999 calls, so if urgent attention is needed, they can arrange it immediately for you.