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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