What to do if…
your fever returns after you seemed to be improving

What to do now

1. Re-check your temperature and write it down.
   Note the reading, the time, how you measured it, and any fever-reducing medicines you have taken, including the name, dose, and time.

2. Check for emergency signs.
   Call 999 now if you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms such as trouble breathing, chest pain, new confusion, a seizure, a stiff neck with severe headache, repeated vomiting you cannot control, a new rapidly spreading rash or purple spots, or you are barely passing urine.

3. If it is not immediately life-threatening, get urgent health advice today.
   In England, use 111 online or call 111. In Wales or Scotland, call 111. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect, your GP out-of-hours route, or local urgent-care advice. Say clearly: “I had a fever, I was improving, and now the fever has returned and I am getting worse again.”

4. Mention anything that raises risk.
   Tell the adviser or clinician if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, have diabetes, have heart, lung, kidney, liver, neurological, or metabolic disease, are on immune-suppressing medicines, have recently had antibiotics, or have recently travelled abroad.

5. Watch for dehydration while you arrange help.
   Sip fluids regularly if you can. Tell the adviser or clinician if you have severe thirst, feel faint or lightheaded, are peeing much less than usual, or your urine is much darker than usual.

6. Reduce spread while you still have a high temperature.
   Stay home and avoid close contact with other people if you can until you no longer have a high temperature.

7. Prepare a simple timeline.
   Write down when the illness started, when you improved, when the fever returned, the highest temperature, new symptoms, current medicines, recent antibiotics, and any major health conditions.