Fever in a teenager: when to worry

Viral illnesses such as a common cold or COVID-19 can cause fever with tiredness, sore throat, cough, or aches. Other infections may cause focused symptoms, such as painful skin redness in cellulitis or a spreading blistering rash in chickenpox. The temperature alone does not show how serious the illness is; appearance, behaviour, breathing, and fluid intake matter more.

Offer frequent fluids and light food if wanted. Encourage rest and comfortable clothing, and check the teenager regularly, including during sleep if they seem unusually unwell. Use only a fever medicine suitable for their age and health, following its label or a clinician’s instructions. Do not give aspirin to a teenager unless a clinician specifically advises it, and do not alternate medicines without guidance.

Seek emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a seizure, severe confusion, collapse, a stiff neck with severe headache, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Arrange same-day medical advice if the teenager cannot keep fluids down, urinates much less, has severe localized pain, becomes increasingly drowsy, or is worsening rather than recovering. A clinician should assess fever that keeps returning or does not settle as expected.

Ask what infection is most likely, which symptoms should trigger reassessment, how to use fever medicine safely, and whether testing or an examination is needed.