Studies have shown that most health workers believe
that the risk of heat-related adverse outcomes increases
with temperatures above 40°C, although the current
evidence does not support this belief (Sullivan et al,
2011). It is important to understand that a child with
a temperature of 40°C due to a simple febrile illness is
very different from a child with a temperature of 40°C
secondary to heat stroke (Sullivan et al, 2011).
NICE (2007) has produced a traffic light system that
details the signs that a fever may be due to a serious
underlying pathology (Table 2). There are certain
associated symptoms that should increase the clinical
suspicion of a serious underlying pathology or illnesses,
such as meningococcal septicaemia.