A fever is usually a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body. For an adult, a fever may be uncomfortable, but fever usually isn't dangerous unless it reaches 103 F or higher. For very young children and infants, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious infection.
But the degree of fever doesn't necessarily indicate the seriousness of the underlying condition. A minor illness may cause a high fever, and a more serious illness may cause a low fever.
Usually a fever goes away within a few days. A number of over-the-counter medications lower a fever, but sometimes it's better left untreated. Fever seems to play a key role in helping your body fight off a number of infections.
Symptoms
You have a fever when your temperature rises above its normal range. What's normal for you may be a little higher or lower than the average normal temperature of 98.6 F.
Depending on what's causing your fever, additional fever signs and symptoms may include:
- Sweating
- Shivering
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- General weakness
High fevers between 103 F and 106 F may cause:
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Fits
- Dehydration
When to see a doctor
Fevers by themselves may not be a cause for alarm — or a reason to call a doctor. Yet there are some circumstances when you should seek medical advice for your baby, your child or yourself.
Taking a temperature
To check your or your child's temperature, you can choose from several types of thermometers, including oral, rectal and ear thermometers.
Although it's not the most accurate way to take a temperature, you can use an oral thermometer for an armpit reading:
- Place the thermometer in the armpit and cross your arms or your child's arms over the chest.
- Wait four to five minutes. The armpit temperature is slightly lower than an oral temperature.
- If you call your doctor, report the actual number on the thermometer and where on the body you took the temperature.
Infants
An unexplained fever is greater cause for concern in infants and in children than in adults. Call your baby's doctor if your baby has a fever of 101 F or higher. Also call your baby's doctor if your baby:
- Has a fever and is younger than 3 months of age.
- Refuses to eat or drink.
- Has a fever and unexplained irritability, such as marked crying during a diaper change or when moved.
- Has a fever and seems lethargic and unresponsive. In infants and children younger than age 2, these may be signs of meningitis. If you're worried that your baby might have meningitis, take your baby to the doctor right away.
- Is a newborn and has a lower than normal temperature — less than 97 F. Very young babies may not regulate their body temperature well when they are ill and may become cold rather than hot.
Children
There's probably no cause for alarm if your child has a fever but is responsive — making eye contact with you and responding to your facial expressions and to your voice — and is drinking fluids and playing.
Call your child's doctor if your child:
- Is listless or irritable, vomits repeatedly, has a severe headache or stomach ache, or has any other symptoms causing significant discomfort.
- Has a fever after being left in a hot car. Seek medical care immediately.
- Has a fever that persists longer than a day (in children younger than age 2) or longer than three days (in children ages 2 and older).
Ask your child's doctor for guidance in special circumstances, such as a child with immune system problems or with a pre-existing illness. Your child's doctor also may recommend precautions if your child has just started taking a new prescription medicine.
Adults
Call your doctor if:
- Your temperature is more than 103 F
- You've had a fever for more than three days
In addition, seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs or symptoms accompanies a fever:
- Severe headache
- Severe throat swelling
- Unusual skin rash, especially if the rash rapidly worsens
- Unusual sensitivity to bright light
- Stiff neck and pain when you bend your head forward
- Mental confusion
- Persistent vomiting
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Extreme listlessness or irritability
- Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
- Any other unexplained signs or symptoms
Causes
Your normal body temperature varies throughout the day — it's lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening. In fact, your normal temperature can range from about 97 F to 99 F. Although most people consider 98.6 F normal, your temperature may vary by a degree or more. Other factors, such as your menstrual cycle or heavy exercise, can affect your temperature.
A fever might be caused by:
- A virus
- A bacterial infection
- Heat exhaustion
- Extreme sunburn
- Certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Overdressing
- A malignant tumor
- Some medications, such as antibiotics and drugs used to treat high blood pressure or seizures
- Some immunizations, such as the diphtheria, tetanus
Sometimes it's not possible to identify the cause of a fever. If you have a temperature of 101 F or higher for more than three weeks and your doctor isn't able to find the cause after extensive evaluation, the diagnosis may be fever of unknown origin.
Is it a Fever?
A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature is dependent on the person feeling the temperature and doesn't give an accurate measure of temperature.
Use a reliable thermometer to confirm a fever (which is when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels):
- 100.4° F measured rectally (in the bottom)
- 99.5° F measured orally (in the mouth)
- 99° F measured in an axillary position (under the arm)
But how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°-104° F range), but this doesn't usually indicate a serious problem. And serious infections might cause no fever or even an abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.
Because fevers can rise and fall, a child might have chills as the body tries to generate additional heat as its temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat as the body releases extra heat when the temperature starts to drop.
Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a higher heart rate. You should call the doctor if your child is having difficulty breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or continues to breathe fast after the fever comes down.
Complications
Complications of a fever may include:
- Severe dehydration
- Hallucinations
- Fever-induced seizure, in a small number of children ages 6 months to 5 years
Fever induced seizures
Febrile seizures usually involve loss of consciousness and shaking of limbs on both sides of the body. Although alarming for parents, the vast majority of febrile seizures cause no lasting effects.
If a seizure occurs:
- Lay your child on his or her side or stomach on the floor or ground
- Remove any sharp objects that are near your child
- Loosen tight clothing
- Hold your child to prevent injury
- Don't place anything in your child's mouth or try to stop the seizure
Most seizures stop on their own. Take your child to the doctor as soon as possible after the seizure to determine the cause of the fever.
Call for emergency medical assistance if a seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes.
Preparing for your appointment
After you make an appointment with your family doctor, general practitioner or pediatrician, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from the doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
- Write down information about the fever, such as when it started, how and where you measured it (orally for example) and any other symptoms. Note whether you or your child has been around anyone who's been ill.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses, recent life changes or recent travel out of the country.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you or your child is taking.
- Write down questions to ask the doctor.
Preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important. For fever, some basic questions to ask include:
- What is causing the fever?
- What else could be causing it?
- What kinds of tests are needed?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
- Is medicine necessary to lower the fever?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Is there a alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment anytime that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Be prepared to answer questions your doctor is likely to ask you, including:
- When did the symptoms first occur?
- What method did you use to take your or your child's temperature?
- Have you or your child taken any fever-lowering medication?
- What other symptoms are you or your child experiencing? How severe are they?
- Do you or your child have any chronic health conditions?
- What medications do you or your child regularly take?
- Have you or your child been around anyone who's ill?
- Have you or your child recently undergone surgery?
- Have you or your child recently traveled outside the country?
- What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?
Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will look for an infection or noninfectious cause of your fever based on your other symptoms and a physical exam. You may need tests, such as blood tests, to confirm a diagnosis.
If you have a low-grade fever that persists for three weeks or more, but have no other symptoms, your doctor may recommend a variety of tests to help find the cause. These may include blood tests and X-rays.
Treatments and drugs
With low-grade fever, doctors don't always recommend trying to lower the body temperature. Doing so may prolong the illness or mask symptoms and make it harder to determine the cause.
Some experts believe that aggressively treating a fever interferes with the body's immune response. Viruses that cause colds and other respiratory infections thrive at normal body temperature. By producing a low-grade fever, your body may be helping to eliminate a virus.
Over-the-counter medications
In the case of a high fever, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter medication, such as:
- Paracetamol (Crocin) or ibuprofen (Brufen). Use these medications according to the label instructions or as recommended by your doctor. Be careful to avoid taking too much. High doses or long-term use of paracetamol may cause liver or kidney damage, and acute overdoses can be fatal. If your child's fever remains high after a dose, don't give more medication; call your doctor instead. For temperatures below 102 F, don't use fever-lowering drugs unless advised by your doctor.
- Aspirin, for adults only. Don't give aspirin to children, because it may trigger a rare, but potentially fatal.
Prescription medications
Depending on the cause of your fever, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, especially if he or she suspects a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or throat infection.
Antibiotics don't treat viral infections. There are a few antiviral drugs used to treat some specific viral infections. However, the best treatment for most viruses is often rest and plenty of fluids.
Lifestyle and home remedies
You can try a number of things to make yourself or your child more comfortable during a fever:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Fever can cause fluid loss and dehydration, so drink water, juices or broth. For a child under age 1, use an oral rehydration solution. These solutions contain water and salts proportioned to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
- Rest. It's necessary for recovery, and activity can raise your body temperature.
- Stay cool. Dress in light clothing, keep the room temperature cool and sleep with only a sheet or light blanket.
- Soak in lukewarm water. Especially for high temperatures, a lukewarm five- to 10-minute soak or a sponge bath can be cooling. If the bath causes shivering, stop the bath and dry off. Shivering raises the body's internal temperature — shaking muscles generate heat.
Prevention
The best way to prevent fevers is to reduce your exposure to infectious diseases. One of the most effective ways to do that is also one of the simplest — frequent hand-washing.
Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before they eat, after using the toilet, after spending time in a crowd or around someone who's sick, and after petting animals. Show them how to wash their hands vigorously, covering both the front and back of each hand with soap, and rinsing thoroughly under running water. Carry moist towelettes or hand sanitizer with you for times when you don't have access to soap and water. When possible, teach your kids not to touch their noses, mouths or eyes — the main way viral infections are transmitted.
In addition, teach your children to turn away from others and to cover their mouths when coughing and their noses when sneezing.
You've probably experienced waking in the middle of the night to find your child flushed, hot, and sweaty. Your little one's forehead feels warm. You immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?
In healthy kids, fevers usually don't indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and worsen problems such as dehydration.
Types of Thermometers
Whatever thermometer you choose, be sure you know how to use it correctly to get an accurate reading. Keep and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for any thermometer.
Digital thermometers usually provide the quickest, most accurate readings. They come in many sizes and shapes and are available at most pharmacies. You should read the manufacturer's instructions to determine what the thermometer is designed for and how it signals that the reading is complete. Overall, digital thermometers usually can be used for these temperature-taking methods:
- oral (in the mouth)
- rectal (in the bottom)
- axillary (under the arm)
Turn on the thermometer and make sure the screen is clear of any old readings. Digital thermometers usually have a plastic, flexible probe with a temperature sensor at the tip and an easy-to-read digital display on the opposite end. If your thermometer uses disposable plastic sleeves or covers, put one on according to the manufacturer's instructions. Remember to discard the sleeve after each use and to clean the thermometer according to the manufacturer's instructions before putting it back in its case.
Electronic ear thermometers measure the tympanic temperature — the temperature inside the ear canal.
Plastic strip thermometers (small plastic strips that you press against the forehead) may be able to tell you whether your child has a fever, but aren't reliable for taking an exact measurement, especially in infants and very young children.
Forehead thermometers also may be able to tell you if your child has a fever, but are not as accurate as oral or rectal digital thermometers.
Pacifier thermometers may seem convenient, but again, their readings are less reliable than rectal temperatures and shouldn't be used in infants younger than 3 months. They also require kids to keep the pacifier in their mouth for several minutes without moving, which is a nearly impossible task for most babies and toddlers.
Glass mercury thermometers were once common, but now they should not be used because of concerns about possible exposure to mercury, which is an environmental toxin.
Tips for Taking Temperatures
As any parent knows, taking a squirming child's temperature can be challenging. But it's one of the most important tools doctors have to determine if a child has an illness or infection. The best method will depend on a child's age and temperament.
For kids younger than 3 months, you'll get the most reliable reading by using a digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature. Electronic ear thermometers aren't recommended for infants younger than 3 months because their ear canals are usually too small.
For kids between 3 months to 4 years old, you can use a digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature or an electronic ear thermometer to take the temperature inside the ear canal. You could also use a digital thermometer to take an axillary temperature, although this is a less accurate method.
For kids 4 years or older, you can usually use a digital thermometer to take an oral temperature if your child will cooperate. However, kids who have frequent coughs or are breathing through their mouths because of stuffy noses might not be able to keep their mouths closed long enough for an accurate oral reading. In these cases, you can use the tympanic method (with an electronic ear thermometer) or axillary method (with a digital thermometer).
To take a rectal temperature: Before becoming parents, most people cringe at the thought of taking a rectal temperature. But don't worry — it's a simple process:
1. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with a lubricant, such as petroleum jelly.
2. Place your child:
- belly-down across your lap or on a firm, flat surface and keep your palm along the lower back
- or face-up with legs bent toward the chest with your hand against the back of the thighs
3. With your other hand, insert the lubricated thermometer into the anal opening about ½ inch to 1 inch (about 1.25 to 2.5 centimeters). Stop if you feel any resistance.
4. Steady the thermometer between your second and third fingers as you cup your hand against your baby's bottom. Soothe your child and speak quietly as you hold the thermometer in place.
5. Wait until you hear the appropriate number of beeps or other signal that the temperature is ready to be read. Write down the number on the screen, noting the time of day that you took the reading.
To take an oral temperature: This process is easy in an older, cooperative child.
1. Wait 20 to 30 minutes after your child finishes eating or drinking to take an oral temperature, and make sure there's no candy in your child's mouth.
2. Place the tip of the thermometer under the tongue and ask your child to close his or her lips around it. Remind your child not to bite down or talk, and to relax and breathe normally through the nose.
3. Wait until you hear the appropriate number of beeps or other signal that the temperature is ready to be read. Write down the number on the screen, noting the time of day that you took the reading.
To take an axillary temperature: This is a convenient way to take a child's temperature. Although not as accurate as a rectal or oral temperature in a cooperative child, some parents prefer to take an axillary temperature, especially for kids who can't hold a thermometer in their mouths.
1. Remove your child's shirt and undershirt, and place the thermometer under an armpit (it must be touching skin only, not clothing).
2. Fold your child's arm across the chest to hold the thermometer in place.
3. Wait until you hear the appropriate number of beeps or other signal that the temperature is ready to be read. Write down the number on the screen, noting the time of day that you took the reading.
Whatever method you choose, keep these additional tips in mind:
- Never take a child's temperature right after a bath or if he or she has been bundled tightly for a while — this can affect the temperature reading.
- Never leave a child unattended while taking a temperature.
