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Feb 26, 2022 · Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if the fever is accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual signs or symptoms. If you're uncomfortable, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Complications
- Prevention
A fever is a temporary rise in body temperature. It's one part of an overall response from the body's immune system. A fever is usually caused by an infection.
For most children and adults, a fever may be uncomfortable. But it usually isn't a cause for concern. For infants, however, even a low fever may mean there's a serious infection.
Body temperatures vary slightly from person to person and at different times of day. The average temperature has traditionally been defined as 98.6 F (37 C). A temperature taken using a mouth thermometer (oral temperature) that's 100 F (37.8 C) or higher is generally considered to be a fever.
Depending on what's causing a fever, other fever signs and symptoms may include:
•Sweating
•Chills and shivering
•Headache
•Muscle aches
Typical body temperature is a balance of heat production and heat loss. An area in the brain called the hypothalamus (hi-poe-THAL-uh-muhs) — also known as your body's "thermostat" — monitors this balance. Even when you're healthy, your body temperature varies slightly throughout the day. It can be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening.
When your immune system responds to disease, the hypothalamus can set your body temperature higher. This prompts complex processes that produce more heat and restrict heat loss. The shivering you might experience is one way the body produces heat. When you wrap up in a blanket because you feel chilled, you are helping your body retain heat.
Fevers below 104 F (40 C) associated with common viral infections, such as the flu, may help the immune system fight disease and are generally not harmful.
Fever or elevated body temperature might be caused by:
•A viral infection
•A bacterial infection
Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years are at increased risk of a seizure that occurs during a fever (febrile seizure). About a third of the children who have one febrile seizure will have another one, most commonly within the next 12 months.
A febrile seizure may involve loss of consciousness, shaking of limbs on both sides of the body, eyes rolling back or body stiffness. Although alarming for parents, the vast majority of febrile seizures cause no lasting effects.
If a seizure occurs:
•Lay your child on the side or stomach on the floor or ground
•Remove any sharp objects that are near your child
•Loosen tight clothing
You may be able to prevent fevers by reducing exposure to infectious diseases. Here are some tips that can help:
•Get vaccinated as recommended for infectious diseases, such as influenza and COVID-19.
•Follow public health guidelines for wearing masks and social distancing.
•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.
When to seek medical advice. Your child has a fever if he or she: Has a rectal, ear or forehead (temporal artery) temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher. Has an oral temperature of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher. Call your doctor if:
May 7, 2022 · Infants, especially those younger than two months old, might need to be admitted to the hospital for testing and treatment. In babies this young, a fever could indicate a serious infection that requires intravenous (IV) medications and round-the-clock monitoring. Request an appointment.
Sep 6, 2019 · A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, and a sign that you're fighting an illness or infection. The average normal temperature for a health person is 98.6 F (37 C). When it rises above that, especially in infants and toddlers, it can be serious. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute.
Aug 31, 2022 · August 31, 2022. When kids get sick, most of the time, viruses or bacteria cause their infections. While viral and bacterial infections can have similar symptoms, such as coughing, sore throat and fever, one big difference between the two is how they are treated.
Sep 5, 2023 · September 5, 2023. A fever – when the body's temperature is above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit – is typically a sign that your body is fighting off an infection. Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, explains what signs to watch for when your child is running a high temperature. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute.
