Childhood vaccines: What research shows about their safety and potential side effects
What You Need To Know About Breaking A Fever
You may be able to break a fever at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications. But a person with a high fever may need medical attention.
People may refer to a fever as hyperthermia, pyrexia, or elevated temperature. It is a state of heightened body temperature commonly occurring as a reaction to an illness. Fevers can also result from sunburn or from getting immunizations.
People with compromised immune systems may tend to have fevers more often than others.
Fevers are typically temporary and resolve independently. However, severe fevers can indicate a serious underlying condition and be a medical emergency.
This article discusses how to assess a fever's severity and ways to break a fever at home.
If you or someone you're caring for has a fever, follow these steps to break the fever:
How long does it take to break a fever?
Most fevers go away on their own within a few days. That said, in cases of severe or persistent fever, emergency assistance may be necessary.
Fevers aren't one-size-fits-all, and neither are their symptoms. Your comfort level and symptoms can help you decide how to treat a fever. If you have a fever, you may experience the following symptoms:
A person's body average body temperature can vary depending on age, sex, activity level, and the site at which a temperature is taken. For example, a body temperature reading at a person's ear, mouth, or armpit will yield different results.
Many pediatricians recommend using rectal thermometers for infants and babies. Discuss with your doctor which type of thermometer to use. You should also tell them what kind of thermometer you used to record your child's temperature.
Temperature ranges for fever
The average body temperature of children and toddlers is around 97.52°F (36.4°C) but this can vary depending on a child's age, health status, and thermometer location.
Similarly to adults, temperatures around 38°C and above may indicate fever.
How and when you should treat a fever can vary depending on a person's age and associated symptoms. If left untreated, fever can lead to serious complications in young children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems.
Adults with a fever and other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, severe pain anywhere in the body, or shortness of breath, should seek immediate medical attention.
Similarly, if your fever goes above 103°F (39.4°C) or doesn't respond to treatment, it may be best to seek medical assistance.
Infants and toddlers
A doctor should see infants up to 3 months old with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above. They should still see a doctor even if there are no other symptoms present.
Babies 3 to 6 months old may not require treatment for fevers up to 102°F (38.9°C). If your baby has other symptoms or their fever goes above 102°F (38.9°C), call your doctor.
Immunocompromized states
If you have a weakened immune system and start experiencing fever, seek medical assistance. A compromised immune system is common in people with HIV, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.
Fever is often a sign of infection. Sometimes, these infections are fast-moving or hard to treat. So if you have a compromised immune system, getting immediate medical support for fever is important.
Can Dehydration Cause Fever? What To Know About Dehydration And Symptoms To Watch For
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Fever From Coronavirus Infection Can Last For Well Over A Week
Many coronavirus patients are asymptomatic. That means they can still spread the disease to others even if they're not showing any of the COVID-19 symptoms. Fever, cough, and fatigue are all symptoms that could point to an infection with the novel coronavirus, but they can also be indicative of a different viral infection.
Only a COVID-19 test will tell you whether you have the disease or whether it's just the flu. But once your COVID-19 diagnosis has been confirmed, you can expect several days of fever after the onset of symptoms.
A limited study from China says that fever can persist in COVID-19 patients for an average of eight to 11 days, One Medical regional medical director Natasha Bhuyan told PopSugar. What that means is that even if you're treating your symptoms at home with Advil or Tylenol, the fever isn't likely to go away for several days.
Fever isn't a bad sign, as it's proof the immune system is working against the new virus. But you'll still have to keep your temperature in check, and you should definitely stay in contact with your doctor, even if your COVID-19 diagnosis doesn't require hospitalization. As fever continues, other symptoms may worsen, and it's critical to contact your physician if you're experiencing trouble breathing.
As you heal from COVID-19 (or a variety of other diseases), your fever will gradually go away. Your temperature levels can also be used to determine whether you've recovered from an infection. In the case of COVID-19, it's an important detail to decide whether you should continue your quarantine or if you can step outside.
The CDC says that your temperature should stay normal for 72 hours without the help of drugs before you leave isolation. Experiencing any sort of fever during that interval means you'll have to reset the clock.
Monitoring your temperature is a good practice, especially if you have to go out for shopping runs or work. Some employers will likely perform routine temperature checks to catch potential COVID-19 patients early as the economy reopens. There's an iPhone shortcut that allows you to quickly register temperature readings, and it may be a good idea to keep track of your temperature even if you're not showing any symptoms of COVID-19. That way, if you do develop a fever, you'll be able to compare the readings to your regular temperature.
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