Malta’s official materials agree that 1400 is not for children under 16, but give conflicting upper age limits for other callers. The fever thresholds below are from NHS guidance, not a Malta-specific fever guideline.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| Your child has difficulty breathing, is hard to wake, has a first seizure, or shows another severe or life-threatening warning sign. | Call 112 now. Do not wait for a pharmacy or use a non-emergency helpline. |
| Your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature without a reading. | NHS guidance advises urgent medical advice. In Malta, call Primary HealthCare on 21231231 or 21222444; call 112 if there are life-threatening signs. |
| Your child is 3 to 6 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature without a reading. | NHS guidance advises urgent medical advice. These are UK clinical thresholds, not Malta-specific rules. |
| You need non-emergency advice about your child, including at night. | Call Primary HealthCare’s Telemedicine Centre on 21231231 or 21222444. It operates 24/7 and is not an emergency service. |
When to call 112 or go to hospital
Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency. Immediate warning signs in NHS fever guidance include difficulty breathing or very fast breathing; being drowsy and hard to wake, confused, extremely agitated or not responding normally; a stiff neck; a rash that does not fade when pressed; being bothered by light; unusually cold hands and feet; blue, grey, unusually pale or blotchy skin or lips; a first seizure; or a child who is not responding as usual or is not interested in feeding or normal activities. These signs come from UK guidance; use Malta’s emergency number, 112, rather than the UK number. If your child is severely deteriorating or you believe their life is at risk, call 112.
Mater Dei Hospital’s Emergency Department is listed as a 24/7 service, and the hospital describes a paediatric area for babies and children. Gozo General Hospital is also listed as providing 24/7 emergency services. The Ministry’s listing does not specify a separate paediatric emergency department in Gozo. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency.
Temperature and age: when to get urgent advice
NHS guidance defines a high temperature in a child as 38°C or higher. It recommends a digital thermometer and explains how to take a temperature in the armpit. These are general UK clinical guidelines; the sources checked for this article did not establish a Malta-government guideline setting child fever thresholds.
Under NHS guidance, a baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher—or whom a caregiver thinks has a high temperature even without a reading—needs urgent medical advice. For a child aged 3 to 6 months, the NHS advises urgent medical advice at 39°C or higher, or when a caregiver thinks the child has a high temperature without a reading. A high temperature with other signs of illness, such as a rash, is also a reason to seek urgent advice. In Malta, call Primary HealthCare for non-emergency medical advice; do not treat these age-and-temperature warnings as a pharmacy-only question.
Seek medical advice if the fever lasts 5 days or more, your child seems dehydrated, does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and worries you, or has another concerning sign of illness. NHS examples of dehydration include fewer wet nappies, sunken eyes and no tears when crying. If you are unsure what to do, call Primary HealthCare rather than waiting for a pharmacy consultation.
Who to call in Malta if it is not an emergency
Primary HealthCare’s Telemedicine Centre provides medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 21231231 or 21222444 about your child’s symptoms, including outside daytime hours. The service is not an emergency service; call 112 if the situation is life-threatening.
Do not use 1400 as the routine advice line for a child under 16. The Ministry’s live 1400 page says the service is intended for patients aged 16–75, while its October 2025 Saħħtek booklet says 16–69; both say children under 16 are outside the service’s scope. For non-emergency advice about a child, call Primary HealthCare on 21231231 or 21222444. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency.
When a pharmacist can help
A pharmacist can help you check whether a fever medicine may be suitable for your child. That is different from assessing urgent symptoms: if your child has an emergency sign, meets an age-and-temperature warning threshold, seems dehydrated, or you are worried about their condition, seek medical advice instead of relying on a medicine discussion alone. NHS guidance advises checking the product leaflet or asking a pharmacist or GP if you are unsure whether paracetamol or ibuprofen is suitable.
For general product information, see our guide to Panadol & Nurofen in Malta. Check the particular product leaflet or ask a pharmacist or clinician about your child’s age, weight and circumstances; this article does not provide a dose.
What you can do at home while monitoring
If your child has no urgent warning signs, offer fluids, keep them comfortable and check them regularly, including during the night. NHS guidance says childhood fevers commonly settle within 1 to 4 days. Seek medical advice sooner if warning signs appear or you are concerned.
Medicine cautions depend on the child and the product. NHS guidance says not to give paracetamol to a child under 2 months; not to give ibuprofen to a child under 3 months, under 5 kg, with chickenpox or while dehydrated; and not to give ibuprofen to a child with asthma unless a doctor recommends it. It also says not to give aspirin to children under 16 and not to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen unless a health professional advises it. This is general UK guidance, not a complete list of Malta product instructions: check the specific leaflet or ask a pharmacist or clinician, and do not guess a dose.
If you are in Gozo
The Ministry lists Gozo General Hospital as providing 24/7 emergency services, but its listing does not specify a separate paediatric emergency department. For non-emergency advice about your child, call Primary HealthCare on 21231231 or 21222444. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency.
Questions people ask
Can I call Malta’s 1400 helpline about my child?
The Ministry’s current 1400 page and its October 2025 booklet both exclude children under 16, though they give different upper age limits for other patients. For non-emergency advice about a child, call Primary HealthCare’s Telemedicine Centre on 21231231 or 21222444. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency.
Does a fever always need medicine?
Not necessarily. NHS guidance advises fluids, regular checks and keeping your child comfortable. If you are considering medicine and are unsure whether it is suitable, check the particular product leaflet or ask a pharmacist or GP. Seek medical advice for urgent warning signs or if you are concerned.
What if my child’s fever has lasted 5 days?
NHS guidance lists a fever lasting 5 days or more as a reason to seek medical advice. In Malta, call Primary HealthCare’s Telemedicine Centre on 21231231 or 21222444 for non-emergency advice.
Where can a child in Gozo get urgent care?
The Ministry lists Gozo General Hospital as providing 24/7 emergency services, but does not specify a separate paediatric emergency department. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency; for non-emergency medical advice, call Primary HealthCare on 21231231 or 21222444.
Need a pharmacy today? Find one in Malta or Gozo. Confirm opening hours and product availability before travelling.
Sources
- NHS — High temperature (fever) in children
- Primary HealthCare Department — Telemedicine
- Malta Ministry for Health — What is the 1400 Helpline?
- Malta Ministry for Health — Saħħtek, English version, October 2025
- Mater Dei Hospital — Emergency Department
- Malta Ministry for Health — Health Services
General information, not individual medical advice. Confirm medicine classification and suitability with a pharmacist or healthcare professional.