A child’s fever on holiday: what to do and when to see a doctor

Most children with a fever can be cared for in your hotel room with fluids, rest and close watching. Get urgent help for a baby under 3 months with 38°C or more, or for any child with warning signs. A high temperature is common in young children and usually settles within 1 to 4 days.

Signs of a fever and how to check it

Your child may feel hot to touch on the back or chest, feel sweaty or look unwell. Some have a fit, called a febrile seizure.

Place a digital thermometer high in the armpit. Hold the arm against the body as long as the leaflet says. If your child has just had a bath or been wrapped up, wait a few minutes first.

Watch your child, not just the number

NICE guidance for UK doctors uses “traffic light” signs for feverish children under 5:

• Green (low risk): normal colour, responsive, smiling, awake, normal cry, moist mouth.
• Amber (see a doctor): pale, not responding normally, no smile or much less active. Flaring nostrils, a dry mouth, poor feeding or peeing less.
• Red (urgent help): mottled, grey or blue skin, lips or tongue; no response; will not wake or stay awake; a weak, high-pitched or constant cry; grunting; very fast breathing; a bulging soft spot on a baby’s head.

In children over 6 months, the temperature alone does not show how ill they are. A fall in temperature after medicine does not prove the illness is mild. Trust your instincts.

What helps

Fluids. Offer drinks often. For a breastfed baby, breast milk is the most suitable drink.

Comfort. Dress your child in light clothes, without undressing them or wrapping them up. Offer food if they want it.

Rest. Keep your child in your room or the shade, away from the kids’ club. Check on them regularly, including at night.

Medicine for comfort. Children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen may help a child who is distressed or uncomfortable, if suitable for their age. Follow the leaflet and ask our pharmacist. Use the syringe or spoon provided, never a kitchen teaspoon.

Get medical advice if the medicine does not help or you are worried.

What not to do

• Do not give aspirin to children under 16. It is linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but dangerous illness.
• Do not sponge your child with cold water or undress them to cool them down.
• Do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. Only alternate them if a doctor or nurse says so.
• Do not give paracetamol under 2 months of age, or ibuprofen under 3 months or 5 kg.
• Do not give ibuprofen to a child who is dehydrated or has chickenpox. With asthma, ask a doctor or pharmacist first.

Fever or heat illness?

A hot child in Sharm El Sheikh does not always have an infection. After hours in the sun, tiredness, headache, sickness, heavy sweating and cramps may mean heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion needs active cooling. Move your child somewhere cool, remove extra clothing and give water or rehydration solution. Spray the skin with cool water and fan them.

They should feel better within 30 minutes. If not, call 123. Call too for hot skin without sweating, fast breathing, confusion or a fit.

Fever medicines such as paracetamol do not help heatstroke and may be harmful. Not sure if it is heat or infection? Get medical advice, and read our guide to heat exhaustion, heatstroke and dehydration.

Signs of dehydration

Fever, heat, vomiting and diarrhoea all cause fluid loss. Look for:

• a dry mouth, sunken eyes, or few or no tears when crying
• dark yellow pee, peeing less, or fewer wet nappies
• a sunken soft spot on top of a baby’s head
• drowsiness or irritability

If you see these signs, give small, frequent sips of rehydration solution and get medical advice urgently.

What you can buy at the pharmacy

Products that can help:

• A digital thermometer for the armpit. From 4 weeks of age, an ear thermometer is another option. Forehead strips are not reliable.
• Children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen suitable for your child’s age, ideally sugar-free, with a measuring syringe.
• Oral rehydration salts for children, if your child is not drinking well, is being sick or has diarrhoea.

See our baby and kids products, or message our pharmacist to ask what is in stock today.

Lowering the risk on holiday

To lower the risk of heat illness, dehydration and infection:

• Keep children out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm, in loose, light-coloured clothes.
• Offer drinks often, especially in the heat.
• Never leave a child in a parked car, even with the windows open.
• Wash hands with soap and water before eating and after the toilet.
• Use sealed bottled water for drinks and baby formula.

Babies, pregnancy and older relatives

Babies. Young babies need urgent help at lower temperatures than older children, as listed below. Ask a doctor or our pharmacist before giving a baby any medicine.

Long-term conditions. If your child has asthma, kidney or liver disease, check fever medicines with a doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy. If you are pregnant and develop a fever with flu-like symptoms, see a doctor. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

Older relatives. Older adults dehydrate more easily and are more at risk from heat.

When to get urgent help

Read how to choose between a pharmacy, a doctor and a hospital in Sharm. If you are referred to a clinic or hospital, contact your travel insurer quickly.

Need help in Sharm?

Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian. Message us on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201.

We have 5 pharmacies across Sharm El Sheikh, and we offer free hotel delivery on orders from $30.

Registered medicines are sold at the official prices set in Egypt. If your child has a warning sign, do not wait for a delivery: see a doctor or call 123.