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What Should You Do If A Fever Lasts More Than 24 Hours
A fever occurs when your body temperature rises above the average of 98.6°F (37°C). Typically, a temperature of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher is considered a fever. It often comes with symptoms like headaches, chills, and, in severe cases, confusion or delirium. Fever is usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection or illness. It can be short-lived or persist for several days, sometimes even weeks, in what is known as a persistent fever.
According to MSD Manuals, if a fever lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, it is best to consult a doctor. This is because it indicates an underlying health issue that needs prompt action. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Ankita Baidya, Consultant - Infectious Diseases, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, sheds light on the common causes of persistent fever and shares what can be done about it.
Also Read: Down With Fever? Avoid These Foods During And After A Fever
What Causes Persistent Fever?Fever can be triggered by several infections and illnesses. The MSD Manual suggests that these causes can be broadly categorised as:
While infectious causes include infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, neoplastic causes include cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma, and kidney cancer, which lead to high body temperatures. Inflammatory causes include systemic rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), and giant cell arteritis.
According to Dr Baidya, some of the common causes of persistent fever are enteric fever, also known as typhoid, dengue, wherein fever can last for about seven days, and bacterial infections.
She urges a thorough investigation to understand the underlying cause.
What To Do If A Fever Lasts More Than 24 HoursA fever that lasts more than 24 hours should be immediately addressed. If it goes beyond three or four days, one should see a doctor regardless of other symptoms.
Dr Baidya says, "If there is a high fever accompanied by chills, or if a very high fever doesn't subside after taking a paracetamol tablet, and you feel weak, experience dizziness, vomiting, or any other symptoms that interfere with your routine, you should definitely see a doctor to ensure it is taken care of in time."
"You must also keep an eye out for other associated symptoms, such as severe headache, severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cough, or any other warning signs like severe burning in urine or blood in urine. These warning signs can be indicative of some serious condition and should be thoroughly examined and investigated by a doctor or a specialist," she adds.
Also Read: Monsoon Woes: How To Prevent Typhoid Fever This Rainy Season?
How To Manage FeverBesides consulting a doctor, you must also take certain measures at home. These include:
When it comes to diet and taking certain medications, it is crucial to speak with your healthcare provider. You must make a note of the kinds of foods you can eat and should avoid. This helps prevent any interaction with the medication that you are taking, the doctor concludes.
DisclaimerAll possible measures have been taken to ensure accuracy, reliability, timeliness and authenticity of the information; however Onlymyhealth.Com does not take any liability for the same. Using any information provided by the website is solely at the viewers' discretion. In case of any medical exigencies/ persistent health issues, we advise you to seek a qualified medical practitioner before putting to use any advice/tips given by our team or any third party in form of answers/comments on the above mentioned website.
Travel Warning As First Case Of 'break Bone' Fever Detected In France - Symptoms To Spot
Dengue Fever: Doctor outlines signs and symptoms of infectionBrits travelling to France have been urged to take caution as a case of "break bone fever" typically found in tropical climates has been detected there. Health authorities have confirmed its first "locally acquired" case of dengue fever in the south east of the country.
The infected person is from La Colle-sur-Loup, near Nice, according to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regional health agency (ARS Paca).
Unlike in other cases of dengue fever, they had not travelled to a contaminated area in the 15 days preceding symptoms.
Instead it is reported that they contracted the disease in metropolitan France.
This has raised concerns among health bodies as it means infected tiger mosquitoes, which are native to Asia, are not only present in France but spreading the disease.
As a result, authorities are working to eliminate the insects from the area.
ARS Paca said: "To prevent the spread of the disease, mosquito control is carried out by the Interdepartmental Agreement for Mosquito Control of the Mediterranean Coast (EID-Med) to the east of the municipality (public roads, private gardens).
"The goal: to eliminate potentially infected adult mosquitoes to prevent them from biting other people in the neighbourhood and to eliminate larval breeding sites.
"This mosquito control action will be supplemented by a door-to-door survey carried out by the ARS and Public Health France in the area concerned to identify people who may have symptoms, inform them of the conduct to adopt and disseminate prevention messages.
"Finally, hospitals, private doctors and medical analysis laboratories in the sector are also mobilised to care for and screen people who may present symptoms of dengue fever and report them to the ARS."
Dengue fever is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is also known as "break bone" fever due to the severe bone pain it can cause.
However, many infected people will not display any symptoms.
For those who do, the WHO says the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash.
Other signs include:
Most people will get better in one to two weeks but some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.
Severe symptoms include:
"People with these severe symptoms should get care right away," the WHO says.
The NHS advises calling 111 if you feel unwell after travelling to a country where dengue is found.
However, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you have travelled to a country where dengue is found and you have symptoms of severe dengue.
Recently the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that tiger mosquitoes are becoming more prevalent in mainland Europe but they "have not yet become established in the UK".
To avoid getting infected with dengue the NHS recommends when travelling in affected areas you:
What's Going Around: Infections, Flu, Scarlet Fever, Stomach Viruses
Here's our weekly round-up of what illnesses are spreading the most in Metro Detroit communities, according to our local doctors and hospitals.
WAYNE COUNTY – COVID, outdoor injuries, upper respiratory viruses, sinus infections, seasonal allergies, scarlet fever.Dr. Tiffney Widner -- Children's Hospital of Michigan Pediatrician
"We're seeing viral upper respiratory issues and sinus infections, seasonal allergies and we're seeing a few cases of scarlet fever. Usually what happens with scarlet fever is they will complain of a sore throat and then they get an all-over rash. After the rash goes away, they get peeling of the skin. So if parents are noticing peeling, especially of the hands or feet, they should come in. When we don't catch or treat strep throat, it can progress to scarlet fever. Untreated strep infections can affect your kidneys, and we want to make sure they're ok. So if your child is complaining of a bad sore throat, they should be seen by their pediatrician."
Dr. Jennifer Stephens-Hoyer -- Emergency Department, Henry Ford Medical Center Plymouth
"We have been seeing a spike in COVID infections. Most are mild, though patients still feel unwell. Right now, those who are up in age have been more likely to require hospitalization."
Dr. Zafar Shamoon -- Emergency Chief, Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
"We are experiencing an upswing in COVID but conditions are not terribly severe. Other than that, we're seeing typical summer falls and trauma injuries from car accidents."
OAKLAND COUNTY – COVID, sports injuries, croup, stomach viruses.Dr. Matthew Compton -- DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Chief of Emergency Medicine
"We're in the mid-summer – people are conscious about being safe around the water and they're not coming in with heat exhaustion as often. That's certainly something we're concerned about with the hot weather now and over the next couple of days. Another thing people need to be mindful of is drinking while enjoying summertime endeavors, like a campfire or while boating. That can get very dangerous very quickly. We are seeing some cases of COVID coming in, but we haven't really seen an uptick. It's floating around and we have had hospitalizations related to it."
Dr. David Donaldson -- Emergency Chief, Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital
"There have been quite a few COVID cases lately causing GI symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. We've also seen several extremity sports injuries."
Emergency Department, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
"We are seeing a lot of patients with abdominal pain, chest pain, and respiratory issues."
WASHTENAW COUNTY – COVID, upper respiratory infections, influenza, asthma & COPD flare-ups.Dr. Brad Uren -- Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Michigan Medicine
"Still seeing rising numbers of COVID cases. Some have required admission but not to ICU. Some other flu and COVID negative URIs are also common. Some asthma and COPD exacerbations from URIs and also weather changes this week as well."
MONROE COUNTY – Heat exhaustion, influenza, abdominal pain.Emergency Center, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital
"With the Monroe County Fair this week, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital – Emergency Center is seeing an increase in heat exhaustion. We are also seeing several patients coming in with abdominal pain, chest pain and influenza A."
MACOMB COUNTY – COVID, poison ivy, sunburn, seasonal allergies, outdoor injuries, stomach viruses.Dr. Steven Yester -- Emergency Physician at McLaren Macomb
"There has been a noticeable, though slight, increase in the number of patients testing positive for COVID-19, with patients experiencing mild symptoms. Allergy sufferers have been experiencing symptoms mirroring upper respiratory infections caused by seasonal allergies. The trend of viral gastroenteritis from the past several weeks has shown signs of tapering off. Orthopedic injuries and, to a lesser extent, soft tissue injuries continue to be the most common reason patients are seeking care in the emergency department."
Dr. Maria Samuel -- Primary Care Physician, Henry Ford Medical Center Sterling Heights
"Patients are coming in with sunburn, poison ivy rash and COVID."
LIVINGSTON COUNTY -- did not report this week.Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
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