A fever is a body temperature which is higher than what is considered to be normal. This is also called as high temperature, Hyperthermia, or Pyrexia.
Normal body temperature is 37°C (98.6° F) but it does vary slightly depending on the time of the day and how active you are.
A temperature of 100.4 or higher is considered a fever.
Causes of fever:
- Cough and colds
- Flu
- Kidney or urinary infection
- Vaccination
- Ear infection
- Chickenpox or whooping cough
- Tonsillitis
Symptoms of fever:
Fever is a sign that your body is trying to fight some sort of illness or infection. You may experience the following symptoms if you have a fever;
- Sweating
- Headache
- Feeling weak
- Being irritable
- Chills and Shivering
- Loss of appetite
- Being dehydrated
When to see a doctor?
If your temperature is 103° F (39.4 ° C) or higher, and if you feel you are experiencing the above symptoms with fever then you should immediately seek medical advice.
Treatments for fever:
Some of the home remedies include:
- Resting
- Taking a lukewarm bath
- Drinking a lot of clear liquids like juices, water, broth, or rehydration drinks
- Taking paracetamol, aspirins, or ibuprofen (Aspirins shouldn’t be given to anyone under 16 years of age.)
To help reduce the temperature you should;
- Drink plenty of water
- Keep yourself cool
- Stay in a room temperature of 18° C (65° F)
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen
‘Ask Gogodoc About’ is an educational series providing information on various symptoms, pains and disorders. (*intended for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms, please reach out to book an online GP consultation with a Gogodoc GP.) Talk to a doctor online at a time that suits you, from home using a phone or video appointment. You can easily book an appointment with GP.
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