A body’s temperature is controlled by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.
Normally a body’s temperature is kept at 37°C; however this can change slightly over the course of the day. Your child’s temperature may rise slightly while they are running around or playing and can even be a little lower when they wake up in the morning.
When a person becomes ill or has an infection, the hypothalamus will raise the body’s default temperature. This is known as a fever. Scientists believe this because it helps the body fight the bacteria or virus by making the body an uncomfortable place to be.
However, it’s important to monitor a fever as sometimes a body can raise the temperature too high, in which case it can be serious and lead to complications.
Fevers can usually be controlled with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Talk to your pharmacist to ensure you use a product suitable for your child’s age range.
