2026-08-08 · 4 min
Child with fever: what to assess online and what is an emergency
How to prepare the video call when your child has a fever, which signs need hospital, and what the doctor can do at a distance.
Fever in a child is one of the most frequent reasons for an urgent paediatric consultation. Online, the doctor helps grade risk: age, height of the temperature, duration, general state, fluid intake and warning signs.
Before the video call, measure the temperature, note the time of the last antipyretic dose (if given), approximate weight, and whether the child is alert, playing, passing urine and taking fluids. These data speed the clinical decision.
Signs that need 112 or hospital A&E: a very drowsy child, breathing difficulty, spots that do not blanch under pressure, unstoppable vomiting, a seizure, or babies under 3 months with fever. In these cases, do not wait for the video call.
If remote assessment is appropriate, the doctor can guide hydration, when to repeat the temperature, criteria for review and, if indicated, prescribe medicine. The electronic prescription has legal validity in Portuguese pharmacies.
For mild, stable symptoms the consultation may resolve the same day. If the fever persists, worsens or new symptoms appear, book another assessment or go to A&E as advised.