Fever

When to Call for Fever

Care Advice for Fever

1. What You Should Know about Fever:
   • Your body temperature varies throughout the day and from day to day.
   • A fever is a rise in the body temperature above the body’s normal range.
   • Having a fever is a sign that a change is going on in your body. It is most often a new infection and is most likely caused by a virus.
   • You may not know the cause of the fever until other symptoms develop. This may take 24 hours or more.
   • Most fevers are helpful. They help the body fight infection. Viruses don’t survive well if the body is too hot.
   • Fevers often go away on their and don’t need treatment.
   • You may feel shivery when you have a fever, Shivering causes the body temperature to rise. It is a sign the body is fighting the infection. In rare cases, you may find you are shaking (rigors). If you have rigors you should call your doctor for advice.
   • Other symptoms often felt with fever include sweating, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, feeling irritable, weakness and dehydration.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Avoiding Infection
   • Reducing exposure to infection is the best way to avoid a fever.
   • Wash your hands often especially before eating and using the toilet. Wash hands after spending time in a crowd, caring for someone who is sick, petting animals, using the toilet and travelling on public transport. Wash hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Throw used tissues away.
   • Wash hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water and rinse under running water.
   • Use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to soap and water.
   • Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
   • Cover your mouth when you cough; cover your nose when you sneeze.
   • Avoid sharing cups, water bottles and utensils.
   • Stay at home when you are sick and avoid close contact with others who are not sick if you can.
   • Avoid close contact with others who are sick, if possible.
   • Face masks, if worn, should cover the nose and mouth and may help reduce spread of infection.
   • Avoid hugging and kissing others.
   • Wipe down touched surfaces or objects such as doorknobs, kitchen surfaces and mobile devices.
3. Vaccines:
   • Vaccines can prevent infection or reduce disease severity.
4. Measuring Your Temperature:
   • Thermometers vary in accuracy. It is useful to measure your temperature, but the most important thing is how you feel. If you think you have a fever, then assume you do and take action based on how well or ill you are or appear to be.
   • There are many types of thermometers: oral (mouth), rectal, ear (tympanic) and forehead. Oral and rectal thermometers are the most accurate.
   • If you do measure your temperature, the ranges below may help you interpret your fever:
   • 100° - 102° F (37.8° - 39° C) Low grade fever: helpful, good range. Does not need to be treated unless to help you feel better.
   • 102° - 104° F (39 - 40° C) Average fever: helpful. Treat if causes discomfort.
   • Over 104° F (40° C) High fever: causes discomfort, but harmless. Always treat.
   • Over 106° F (41.1° C) Very high fever: important to bring it down. Rare to go this high.
   • Over 108° F (42.3° C) Dangerous fever: fever itself can be harmful.
5. Treatment for All Fevers - Extra Fluids
   • Fluids alone can help lower the temperature and also help you feel better. Reason: you lose fluids through your skin when you have a fever (sweating). This helps reduce the fever, but you could become dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
6. Fever Medicine:
   • A fever only needs to be treated with medicine if it is making you feel ill. Most often, that means a fever above 102° F (39° C). Also use for shivering (shaking chills). Shivering will cause the temperature to increase further.
   • For fevers higher than 102° F (39° C), take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
   • If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
   • Goal of treatment: bring the temperature down to a level where you feel comfortable. Most often, the fever meds lower the fever by 2° to 3° F (1 - 1.5° C). They do not bring it down to normal. It takes 1 or 2 hours to see the effect.
7. Sponging with Lukewarm Water:
   • Note: sponging is an option for high fevers. It might help you feel better.
   • When to Use: fever above 104° F (40° C) that doesn't come down with fever meds. Always give the fever medicine at least an hour to work before sponging.
   • How to Sponge: use lukewarm water (85 - 90° F or 29.4 - 32.2° C). Sponge for 20-30 minutes. Using water that is too cold will feel uncomfortable and cause more shivering, making the temperature up higher. The goal is to dampen the skin and the evaporation of the water from the skin will help cool you down.
   • If you shiver or becomes cold, stop sponging or make the water warmer.
8. Other Tips:
   • Rest until your fever has come down.
   • Avoid strenuous activity.
   • If shivering, put on an extra layer of clothes which you can easily remove if you start to overheat.
   • In bed, rest under a light sheet rather than a heavy blanket which may send your temperature up further.
9. Return to Work and Other Activities:
   • You can return to work and other activities after the fever is gone. You should feel well enough to join in normal activities.
10. What to Expect:
    • Most fevers with viral illnesses range between 101° and 104° F (38.4° and 40° C).
    • They may last for 2 or 3 days.
    • They are not harmful.
11. Call Your Doctor If:
    • You feel very sick
    • Any serious symptoms occur such as trouble breathing
    • Fever goes above 104° F (40° C)
    • Fever lasts more than 3 days (72 hours)
    • You think you need to be seen
    • Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.