What’s considered a fever and when to see a doctor

Humans – like all mammals – are warm-blooded, meaning our bodies stay warm, or at a fairly consistent temperature, even when the temperature of our surroundings change.

对于我们大多数人来说，我们的身体倾向于在华氏97到99度之间徘徊。But in certain circumstances, our body temperate rises, resulting in afever.

“Your body’s immune system creates a fever to fight off infection,” saidSarah Joseph, MD.As an internal medicine and pediatrics specialist, Dr. Joseph treats children and adults of all ages for a wide range of illnesses.

Low-grade fever

The medical community generally defines a fever as a body temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. A body temp between 100.4 and 102.2 degree is usually considered a low-grade fever.

“如果体温不高，不一定需要药物治疗，”约瑟夫博士说。

A low-grade fever usuallydoesn’t require treatment,unless the fever is occurring in avery young infant，或者伴有其他令人担忧的症状，如意识混乱或不能吃喝而不呕吐。

要想不吃药就退烧，约瑟夫医生建议尽量少穿衣服，或者用温水或冷水洗澡。你还应该确保喝足够的液体来保持身体的水分。

And keep in mind that even a mild fever could be a sign of a contagious illness. Washing your hands and covering your cough are always good practices.

“In the age ofCOVID-19, one of the things people should keep in mind is that if they are having any kind of fever that is persisting, they should probably go get tested,” Dr. Joseph said.

Not sure whether you need a test or where to get tested? Use our digital assistant, Clare, located in the lower right corner of the OSF HealthCare website.

High fever

When body temperature rises above 102.2 degrees, it can be a sign of a more serious infection.

Most fevers will resolve in a few days, but Dr. Joseph says some circumstances could be reason to see a provider, either in a primary care office orurgent careclinic.

Consider seeing a doctor if:

• Fever lasts longer than three to five days
• Fever doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Tylenol or Advil)
• Other symptoms include confusion, neck stiffness or sensitivity to light

“Another reason to seek medical attention is if you don’t feel right about how things are going,” Dr. Joseph said.

Rarely, a fever could be a sign of a medical emergency.

Call 911 or go directly to anemergency roomif you have a fever and any of the following symptoms: