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Oct 13, 2022 · Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A fever is generally defined as a body temperature above 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher. COVID-19 fevers can vary in intensity and duration. Fever is often accompanied by other symptoms like cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and respiratory difficulties.
- Do you always have a fever with COVID-19?You can also have COVID-19 if there’s no fever, although it is very common to experience a high temperature if you’re infected. Children who have C...
- Can I have COVID-19 if I have a fever?COVID-19 is one of the possible causes of a fever, although there are many other conditions that cause fever as well. If you have other symptoms th...
- Can you run a low grade fever with COVID-19?There is more possibility to have a low to medium grade fever with COVID-19 instead of a high grade fever.
- When to worry about fever in adults with COVID-19?If your fever doesn’t break after a few days or if your symptoms start to worsen, then you should contact your doctor.
- What is considered a fever for COVID-19?A temperature higher than 38°C (100.4°F) is considered to be a fever.
- When to go to the hospital for COVID-19 fever?If your fever doesn’t go away or if you’re experiencing emergency warning signs of COVID-19, then you should go to the hospital. If you have signs...
- Is it normal that my COVID-19 fever comes and goes?While you are recovering from COVID, it is normal to have periods where you are feeling better, that alternate with periods of recurring symptoms....
- Overview
- Temperature range
- Other things to know about fever and COVID-19
- Other symptoms of COVID-19
- When to seek care
- The bottom line
A fever is when your body temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or greater. See a doctor if temperatures are at least 100.4°F (38°C) for infants, 102.2°F (39°C) for children, and 103°F (39.4 C) for adults.
COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, can start anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure to the virus.
Fever is one of the ways your body tries to fight off infection. For that reason, it’s a common symptom of COVID-19, which typically gets reported by those who have it.
However, not everyone who gets COVID-19 will develop a fever.
According to the CDC, you have a fever if your temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or greater, no matter what the cause.
Read on to find out about fever as a symptom of COVID-19 and other symptoms that require medical care.
In addition to being new, COVID-19 has often been unpredictable. As common a symptom as fever is, there is no definitive temperature range for this condition. Some people who test positive never run a fever. Others spike very high fevers.
A large review of multiple studies across nine countries observed 24,420 adults with COVID-19, and 78 percent ran a fever at some point during their illness.
A later review of studies involving 17,515 adults and children with COVID-19 uncovered similar results. Of all the adult participants, 79.43 percent ran a fever during their illness. Low- and medium-grade fevers were also more likely to occur in this population than high fevers.
Researchers also noted that fever was less likely to occur in children, especially during the early days when symptoms begin. They found that 45.86 percent of 373 children in China experienced fever. The authors conclude that over 50 percent of children under 18 years old with COVID-19 presented without fever.
Despite the lack of a specific temperature range, it is clear that fever can indicate serious illness. The majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have fever as a symptom. However, running a high fever does not mean you will have a serious outcome.
A study involving over 7,000 COVID-19 patients in the New York City area found that initial high fever upon hospital admission did not correlate significantly with death.
However, persistent high fevers throughout the course of illness were significantly correlated with death due to COVID-19. People whose fevers spiked to 104°F (40°C) or higher had a mortality rate of 42 percent.
This same study found that abnormally low body temperatures were associated with the poorest outcomes. Those with a body temperature under 96.8°F (36°C) had the highest death rates.
COVID-19 may present with one or more of these symptoms:
•cough, this is the second most common symptom after fever
•chills
•loss of taste or smell
•difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•exhaustion or fatigue
Fever can be an indication of many illnesses, not just COVID-19. However, if you have any COVID-19 symptoms and may have been exposed to the virus, speak with a health professional immediately. There are medications and treatments that can help reduce the possibility of serious disease.
If you run a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or greater, get tested. Early testing can help ensure better outcomes.
No matter what the possible cause, high fevers such as these should always prompt a call to a health professional:
•Infants: rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
•Toddlers and children: temperature over 102.2°F (39°C).
•Adults: temperature of 103°F (39.4 C) or higher — potentially a sign of serious COVID-19 disease.
COVID-19 does not have a temperature range associated with it. People with COVID may spike high fevers or have no fever at all. Very high fever is associated with higher mortality rates among people with COVID-19. Too-low body temperature can also be indication of serious COVID-19 disease.
- Corey Whelan
Jan 1, 2023 · It's true that fevers are incredibly common, and COVID-19 certainly brought its share of thermometer-raising days to those infected. As with COVID, fever — defined as a temperature of 100.4° F or higher — is your immune system's response to an infection or another invader.
- Toni Golen, MD
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
Jan 25, 2021 · Many infections can cause fever, but if a person has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, they should stay at home and get medical advice. This is because the fever could be an early...
- Aaron Kandola
Sore throat. Congestion. Runny nose. Nausea. Vomiting. Diarrhea. These symptoms can start anywhere from 2 to 14 days after you’re in contact with the virus. Emergency COVID-19 symptoms. You need...
Mar 27, 2024 · Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults or people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness. COVID-19 may be a mild, moderate, severe or critical illness.
Jan 27, 2022 · Diarrhea. Headache. Fatigue. Nausea or vomiting. Congestion or runny nose. Some of these symptoms are very common and can occur due to many conditions other than COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus called SARS CoV-2.
