Does teething cause a fever, and how long can it last?
Applies to age: 4–30 months
In short
Teething may come with a slightly raised temperature, but below 38°C; 38°C or more is already a high temperature (fever). A high temperature lasting 5 days or more needs an urgent medical assessment.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Baby teeth sometimes come in with no pain or discomfort, or with only mild symptoms lasting a few days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Baby teeth sometimes emerge with no pain or discomfort, or only mild symptoms that last a few days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Among the possible symptoms of teething is a slightly raised temperature, but below 38°C.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their temperature is slightly raised but less than 38C
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- In children, a high temperature (fever) is considered to be 38°C or more.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
A high temperature is 38C or more.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A high temperature in young children usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days (this applies to fever in general, not only to teething).
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
The temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If any teething symptoms cause concern, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
- An ambulance is called in situations such as a very high fever with seizures or with symptoms that do not usually occur in that person during a fever.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
bardzo wysoka gorączka z drgawkami lub objawami, które zwykle u danej osoby podczas gorączki nie występują
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) when life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- A high temperature lasting 5 days or more needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Other signs of illness, such as a rash, together with a high temperature need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Night and holiday health care is medical help outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic; a high fever is listed among the situations in which you can go there.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
Polish original
masz wysoką gorączkę lub silny ból
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- If in doubt, it is better to see a doctor.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zawsze jeśli masz wątpliwości – lepiej skonsultować się z lekarzem.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/teething/baby-teething-symptoms/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/
License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS. - Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.