Fever Care

Your body temperature is soaring higher than normal, and you don’t feel right. It’s possible that you have a fever (also known as pyrexia).

Hot weather, exercise, and typical childhood immunizations can cause body temperature to rise, but most health care providers would say you have a fever if your body temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. The best way of taking temperature is with a thermometer. A normal body temperature ranges between 97.5 and 98.9 degrees Fahrenheit (36.4 and 37.2 degrees Celsius).

A fever itself is not an illness, but it is a symptom or indicator that something is not right within your body. It might be an allergic reaction to medication or food, a viral or bacterial infection, or simply becoming overheated in the sun.

You should look for other outward signs of fever after taking a person's temperature with a thermometer. This is very important because a disabled person, young child, or baby may not be able to share how he or she is feeling. Symptoms of fever might include:

• Aching all over
• Chills
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Flushed face
• Headache
• Hot, dry skin
• Loss of appetite
• Low output of urine and/or dark urine

In addition, seek immediate medical attention if a fever is accompanied by:

• Fever in a baby younger than 3 months old
• Confusion
• Extreme fatigue
• Irregular breathing
• Stiff neck
• Purple spotted rash
• Sore throat that persists
• Ear pain (a child tugging on his or her ear)
• Painful, burning or frequent urination
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea