What You Need to Know About Fever Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

A fever is a temporary increase in temperature, especially as a result of an illness. In adults, body temperature can rise to 39.4 c without raising a concern. However, a rise more than that can be a result of an illness. In children, a slight rise in body temperature can be a sign of an illness. Therefore, you should seek medical care to prevent further complications.

Fever generally goes away after a few days. However, if the fever persists, you should consider visiting an emergency room near you. Sometimes, leaving a fever untreated can be beneficial since it helps your body fight some infections.

What Are the Causes of Fever?

Fever occurs when the hypothalamus part of your brain shifts the set body temperature mark upwards. When the set mark shifts, you might experience chills, and sometimes you might shiver even under blankets. In such a case, your body reacts by generating more heat, thus a rise in body temperature. The temperature rise then leads to fever.

Some of the factors that may cause elevated body temperature include:

• Bacterial or viral infection in the body
• Heat exhaustion
• Malignant tumors
• Inflammatory conditions
• Medications such as antibiotics and seizure control drugs
• Some vaccines

It is not easy to identify the cause of fever. Therefore, it is advisable to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatments. If the fever is persistent, you can consider visiting a 24-hour emergency clinic within your location.

Signs and Symptoms of Fever

You might experience a fever if your body temperature rises above the normal range. Other than elevated body temperature, there are other signs and symptoms associated with fever. Some of the signs and symptoms include:

• Chills and shivering, especially during the early stages
• Sweating
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Body weakness and fatigue
• Appetite loss
• Irritability
• Dehydration as a result of profuse sweating

When Should I See a Doctor?

An elevation in your body temperature is not the cause of fever. Therefore, you should seek medical caresince it might be a result of an illness. Age can be a factor that determines when to seek medical attention.

Children

If your child has a body temperature of more than 38.9 c, it could be alarming. Therefore, you can visit a doctor at a walk-in clinic near you. However, if your child is responsive and can look at you straight in the eye, you can monitor them for sometime before visiting a doctor.

Adults

You can contact your doctor if you have a temperature above 39.4 c. Other factors that can cause the need for immediate medical attention include:

• Unusual skin rash
• Severe headache
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
• Seizures
• Chest pain and difficulties breathing
• Neck pains

Complications Associated With Fever

If your child is less than five years, they might experience convulsions or seizures when they have a fever. However, the seizures have no long-lasting effects. Most convulsions and seizures can stop on their own, but you should consider visiting an emergency room. If you don’t know one near you, you can google search “an emergency clinic near me.”

Diagnosis

You might not determine the cause of fever if you don’t have a pre-diagnosed medical condition that might be causing it. Therefore, the doctor will do the following:

• Ask you some questions about your medical history and symptoms
• Physically examine your body according to the symptoms
• Order blood tests and chest x-rays

Treatment

If you have a low-grade fever, the doctor might not recommend treatments since they might be beneficial in eliminating some illnesses. However, if you have a persistent fever, the doctor might recommend the following treatments:

Prescription Medications

Depending on the cause of the fever, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, especially if you have a bacterial infection. If you have a viral infection, the doctor might recommend lots of fluids and rest since antiviral drugs might not be reliable in reducing signs of fever.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

If you have mild symptoms of fever, your doctor might recommend over-the-counter drugs. Some of the drugs include ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

ER Near Me

Do you need emergency care for fever? At Express ER, we will be there for you. With a team of experienced doctors and 24-hour services, you are guaranteed convenience and satisfaction.