Fever and signs of a serious infection in a child

When your child has a fever with symptoms that involve the brain and nervous system, the fever may be sign of a serious infection. Symptoms of a serious infection may include:

• A severe headache, neck pain or stiffness, and fussiness.
• Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
• Acting confused or struggling with you for no reason.
• A bulging soft spot (fontanel) on a baby's head when the baby is not crying.

A fever and symptoms of infection in or around a joint may mean your child has a serious muscle, joint, or bone condition, such as osteomyelitis or infectious arthritis. Symptoms include:

• New swelling.
• Severe pain.
• Sudden redness.
• Warm to the touch in or around a joint.
• Bone pain.
• Painful or limited movement of joints.
• Drainage of pus.

A child who has a fever and any signs of a serious muscle or bone infection needs immediate medical evaluation.

Call your doctor immediately if your child has a fever with any other signs of a serious infection.

The flu, which usually is not serious, can cause your child to have a high fever. Your child will usually also have body aches, rather than other, more serious symptoms.