What is a fever? It is an increase in body temperature. Fever can also be described as a symptom of infection. Health experts say that is usually harmless and even helpful. Common fevers do not need to be treated. The normal body temperature of the human body is 98.6°C (37°C). However, body temperature can vary between 97°F (36.1°C) and 99°F (37.2°C), and based on your activity levels and time, the temperature may vary a bit further. It has been found that the body temperature of older people is low compared to that of younger ones. When can you say that you are having a fever? You can make use of a fever temperature chart to learn about the temperature levels associated with fever. When your temporal artery, ear, or rectal temperature reaches 100.4°F or 38°C or above, then you are affected with fever. If your oral temperature reaches 100°F or 37.8°C or your armpit temperature reaches 99°F or 37.2°C, you are having a fever.
Is there any need for treating a fever?
When you are taking treatment for a fever, the primary purpose is to eliminate fatigue and other discomforts. Treatment also promotes rest. Treating a fever does not reduce or extend the course of the illness.
How to treat fever in children?
Most children with comparatively high fevers do not often feel sick. You have to decide the treatment according to the amount of discomfort. When your child becomes uncomfortable or restless, you can motivate the child is uncomfortable or restless, you can encourage him/her to take a lot of fluids. Lightweight clothing must be used, and you can make use of a light blanket in case the child feels chills. Giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen is advisable, but you must follow the guidelines provided on the label. If you have a baby that is under six weeks old, you should not give acetaminophen and ibuprofen should not be given to children under six months. In these types of situations, you must seek the help of a doctor.
How to treat an adult with a fever?
Suitable treatment must be taken based on how he/she looks and feels. As per the fever temperature chart, one has a temperature of 103°F or more, they would feel sick and tired. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen in such a situation.
When does seeking medical help become inevitable?
For children who are younger than three months, it is always advisable to seek the help of a doctor instead of depending on home remedies. Sometimes, children aged between three and six months experience a temperature up to 102°F and often become highly uncomfortable, fatigued, and irritable. This condition needs to be handled with the help of a doctor. If fever lasts for more than one day without any other symptoms and the temperature reaches above 102 F, professional help is highly advisable. If your child, aged between 2 and 17 years, has a temperature of 102°F and above as per the fever temperature chart and the fever lasts more than three days or not responding to medication, medical help is highly recommended.
When does emergency care become unavoidable?
Emergency medical care should be sort if, as per the fever temperature chart, one has a fever lasting for a few days with warning signs like severe headaches, stiff neck, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, high irritability, confusion, and other types of unusual symptoms.
Learn how to take a temperature
You must make use of a digital thermometer for checking the temperature. You can find different types of thermometers, and they include digital thermometers, digital ear thermometers, and temporal artery thermometers. You can make use of any thermometer to read the temperature. The instructions available in the package must be followed carefully, and the thermometer should be cleaned using lukewarm water after every use. After taking the temperature, you can compare it with a fever temperature chart to find out the exact severity of the condition.
How often must you check the temperature?
You must monitor the temperature frequently including in the night especially in the case of children. If you find that fever is high, the frequency of measuring the temperature should be increased, and you need to check the temperature every one hour and compare it against the fever temperature chart. There are advanced thermometers available in the market that allow you to take the temperature gently even without disturbing a sleeping baby.
When your body temperature consistently remains above the normal range as per the fever temperature chart, it is said that you have a fever. This condition is a defense mechanism of the human body to fight against viral or bacterial infections. You cannot define fevers as a disease; instead, it is a symptom often linked with others like fatigue, headache, pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and so on. It is a warning sign for the outbreak of an illness, and under normal circumstances, this illness is not going to be a serious one.