The temperature you must consider a Fever or a Coronavirus symptom

Thermometer

When your measured temperature is below 102 degrees, it doesn't require an immediate medical attention, Dr. Jill Grimes.

Fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. According to the National Institutes of Health, fever is part of your body's immune system to try to kill a virus or bacteria that caused body infected.

According to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus resource, fever (pyrexia) is technically higher than normal body temperature. Normal body temperature can vary from person to person but is usually about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 C. A recent study claims it has dropped to 97.9°F over the last two centuries.

Jill Grimes, MD, FAAFP, a board-certified family physician at UT Austin's Student Health Services, says that there are different ranges and severities of fever. A low-grade fever is used to describe a body temperature that is above normal but is not above or is just barely above the fever threshold. "So roughly 99 degrees to 100.9 degrees is not a true fever," she says.

"In general, when physicians hear that your measured temp is above 101, it catches our attention, meaning we are looking for an infection," says Dr. Grimes. The American Academy of FamilyPhysicians (AAFP) adds that temperatures of 103 degrees or above are considered high fevers and can signal a potentially dangerous infection that needs medical treatment ASAP.

On the other side the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention suggests a few steps to take temperature:

1) Wait 30 minutes after eating, drinking or exercising

2) Wait at least six hours after taking acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin

3) Turn on the thermometer by pressing the button near the screen

4) Hold the tip of the thermometer under your tongue until it beeps

5) When the thermometer beeps, read your temperature on the screen: If your temperature is 100.4º F or 38º C or higher, you have a fever

"In general, fevers by themselves are not cause for immediate medical attention in adults unless they persist more than a day or two or are higher than 103," says Dr. Grimes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults with fever up to 102 degrees should rest and drink plenty of fluids. Although medication is not required for low grade fever, it necessitates to see a doctor if it is accompanied by severe headaches, stiff neck or difficulty breathing. To reduce the fever, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin may be used in fevers above 102 degrees, but if it does not respond to medication or is higher than 103 degrees, medical assistance may be necessary.

Depending on what's causing fever, additional fever symptoms may include:

Sweating

Chills and shivering

Headache

Muscle aches

Loss of appetite

Irritability

Dehydration

General weakness

Bringing down the fever helps the sick person feel better and relax. According to the CDC, you can bring down fever using these methods:

Give them a slightly warm bath

Place a cool, damp washcloth on their forehead

Wash their arms and body with a cool cloth

To treat high fever with remedies at home, ask your doctor which one is best for you or a member of your family. They can determine the right dose to give based on the patient's age, body weight, and history of other health conditions that may put them at risk for taking certain medications.

Take time to read and understand the warnings and precautions on their product labels before giving or taking antipyretic drugs. Do not exceed the daily dose and the daily limit to prevent dangerous side effects.

For example, ibuprofen increases the risk of heart attack or stroke, ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Taking too much acetaminophen can cause severe damage to the liver, and too much can be fatal.

There was a controversy in the news about whether ibuprofen worsens the corona virus or whether you should take acetaminophen instead. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are not recommending against the use of Ibuprofen because there is not enough evidence to rule it out.

Q: Could #ibuprofen worsen disease for people with #COVID19?

A: Based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend against the use of of ibuprofen. pic.twitter.com/n39DFt2amF

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 18, 2020

If we focus exclusively on COVID-19, your temperature alone will not tell if you have an infection. But if you have other common symptoms like dry cough, fatigue and digestive problems or severe symptoms like difficulty in breathing, it is important to see if you qualify for coronavirus test. If you are concerned about a possible coronavirus diagnosis, you should start isolating yourself immediately.

Prevention

You may be able to prevent fevers by reducing exposure to infectious diseases. Mayo Clinic suggests some tips that can help:

Wash your hands often and teach your children to do the same, especially before eating, after using the toilet, after spending time in a crowd or around someone who's sick, after petting animals, and during travel on public transportation.

Show your children how to wash their hands thoroughly, covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing completely under running water.

Carry hand sanitizer with you for times when you don't have access to soap and water.

Try to avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, as these are the main ways that viruses and bacteria can enter your body and cause infection.

Cover your mouth when you cough and your nose when you sneeze and teach your children to do likewise. Whenever possible, turn away from others when coughing or sneezing to avoid passing germs along to them.

Avoid sharing cups, water bottles and utensils with your child or children.

Citations

“Fever.” MedlinePlus. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.

“Fever.” familydoctor. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.

“Definitions of Signs, Symptoms and Conditions of Ill Travelers.” CDC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.

“Fever: Symptoms & Causes.” Mayo Clinic. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.

“The flu: Caring for someone sick at home.” CDC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.

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