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What to do if…
you are immunocompromised or taking immune-suppressing medicine and develop a fever

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Contact the specialist team responsible for your treatment now and use any urgent number or fever plan they gave you. If you cannot reach them promptly, seek urgent medical advice through your GP, GP out-of-hours service or the urgent-care service for your part of the UK.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait until tomorrow for advice just because the fever seems mild or you otherwise feel fairly well.
  • Do not delay making contact while repeatedly checking your temperature.
  • Do not rely on the temperature falling after paracetamol as proof that the cause is harmless.
  • Do not take leftover antibiotics or medicine prescribed for someone else.
  • Do not stop immune-suppressing medicine, steroids, chemotherapy tablets or transplant medicine unless a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not drive yourself if you feel confused, faint, severely weak or breathless.

What to do now

  1. Take your temperature with a thermometer if one is readily available. Note the reading, the time, your symptoms and any paracetamol you have taken, but do not delay seeking advice to find a thermometer.
  2. Call the urgent number provided by your specialist, transplant, haematology, oncology or treatment team. Follow the temperature threshold and instructions in your personal treatment plan, as these can vary between medicines and treatments.
  3. Clearly state that you are immunocompromised or taking immune-suppressing medicine, that you have developed a fever, and whether you have recently had chemotherapy, a transplant or another treatment that affects immunity.
  4. If you cannot reach your specialist team promptly, contact your GP or GP out-of-hours service. In England or Wales you can call 111; in Scotland call NHS 24 on 111; in Northern Ireland use your GP out-of-hours service.
  5. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you have difficulty breathing, confusion, slurred speech, a seizure, blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, extreme drowsiness, collapse, or you feel seriously unwell. Do not drive yourself.
  6. Keep your medicines, treatment alert card, recent clinic information and allergy details nearby. Take your medicines with you if you are told to attend hospital.
  7. Ask someone to stay with you or remain contactable if possible, particularly if you feel weak or your condition is worsening.

What can wait

You do not need to work out what caused the fever, decide whether you need antibiotics, rearrange future treatment or determine which medicine may be involved. The immediate task is to obtain urgent clinical advice and follow the instructions you receive.

Important reassurance

A fever does not prove that you have a serious infection. However, infections can become serious more quickly when the immune system is weakened, and some people may become unwell without a very high temperature, so prompt assessment is appropriate.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Decisions about examination, tests, antibiotics, hospital assessment and changes to immune-suppressing treatment may require your specialist team or another healthcare professional.

Important note

This is general health information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Follow your personal treatment plan and instructions from the clinicians responsible for your care. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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