Why does a child's fever come and go, or return in the evening and at night?
Applies to age: 0–36 months
In short
A high temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days. A high temperature that lasts 5 days or longer needs an urgent medical assessment.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- A high temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 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:
The temperature usually returns to normal within 1 to 4 days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A normal temperature in babies and children can vary slightly from child to child.
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 normal temperature in babies and children can vary slightly from child to child.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- It is worth checking a child with a high temperature regularly, including at night.
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:
check on your child regularly, including during the night
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- If a child has just had a bath or been wrapped in a blanket, their temperature may be higher for a short time; wait a few minutes and measure again.
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:
If your child has just had a bath or been wrapped in a blanket, their temperature may be higher for a short time.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
- 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: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- A high temperature that lasts 5 days or longer 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: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Other signs of illness, for example 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: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A child's reluctance to eat, or the child not being themselves when a parent is worried, together with a high temperature 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:
does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Night and holiday health care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic.
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: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- When in doubt, it is better to consult 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: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
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)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.
- 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.