What is a fever?
Fever is a body temperature higher than 100° F (37.8° C). Fever isn't just feeling hot or sweaty. To qualify as a fever, your temperature must be high, as measured by a thermometer.
Normal body temperature isn't the same in everybody, but it's usually around 98.6° F (37° C). Normal body temperature can be up to 1 degree above or below this in some people.
Most fevers in healthy people are caused by an infection from a virus Overview of Viral Infections A virus is a tiny living organism. Viruses are so small they can be seen only with the most powerful microscopes. That's why they're called microorganisms (micro means very small). Other common... read more and usually go away on their own in a few days
When you have a fever, your symptoms are mostly from what’s causing the fever, not the fever itself
A fever itself can’t hurt you unless it goes higher than about 106° F (41.1° C)
Doctors try to find out what’s causing the fever with a physical exam and sometimes a few tests
Medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help lower your fever if it's making you uncomfortable
What causes fever in adults?
Many disorders can cause fever.
The most common causes are:
Less often, fever may be caused by:
With cancer and inflammatory disorders, the fever usually lasts a long time. The fever may be there all the time or come and go.
In older people, the cause of a fever is usually a bacterial infection, often in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, or other soft tissues. However, infections don't always cause fever in older people.
Fever of unknown origin
A fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a fever that:
Is at least 101° F (38.3° C)
Lasts for several weeks
Has no obvious cause that can be found by doctors
Doctors usually do many tests, including blood and urine tests and imaging tests, to look for an unusual infection or a cancer. If these test results are negative, doctors may need to test a sample of tissue (biopsy) from your liver, bone marrow, or other area that may have an infection.
What are the symptoms of fever in adults?
Fever is a symptom of an illness. By itself a fever usually doesn't cause many symptoms except:
When the fever starts, you may shiver all over and have chattering teeth like you're out in the cold (called "chills")
If you have a high fever, your skin will feel hot to the touch
When the fever goes away ("breaks") you may sweat a lot
You may also have symptoms of whatever caused your fever. For example, if your fever was caused by a chest infection, you may have a cough.
When should I see a doctor about a fever?
See a doctor right away if you have a fever and any of these warning signs:
A change in thinking ability, such as confusion
A headache, stiff neck, or both
A rash
Feeling faint or light-headed
Fast heart rate
Shortness of breath or fast breathing
A temperature higher than 104° F (40° C) or less than 95° F (35° C)
Recent travel to an area where a serious infectious disease, such as malaria, is common
Recent use of drugs that weaken your immune system (immunosuppressants What causes an immunodeficiency disorder? The immune system is your body's defense system. It helps protect you from illness and infection. The immune system's job is to attack things that don’t belong in your body, such as germs, parasites... read more )
If you don’t have any of these warning signs but you have a fever for more than 1 or 2 days, call your doctor. Depending on your age, symptoms, and health history, your doctor may have you come in to be checked and may even do tests to find out what's causing your fever. They may order:
Blood tests
Urine tests
Chest x-ray
Other tests, depending on your symptoms
If your fever lasts more than 3 or 4 days with or without other symptoms, visit your doctor.
How do doctors treat fever in adults?
Depending on how you feel and what your temperature is, your doctor may not need to treat your fever—the fever means your body is fighting the infection. Your doctor will give you treatment for whatever is causing the fever.
If the fever itself is making you uncomfortable, your doctor may give you medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, that will lower your fever. Drinking more fluids and wearing cool clothes may also make you feel better.
If your fever is higher than 105.8° F (41.0° C), you may need to be admitted to the hospital. In the hospital you'll be given fluids by vein (IV) and cooling blankets.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
ibuprofen |
Advil, Advil Children's, Advil Children's Fever, Advil Infants', Advil Junior Strength, Advil Migraine, Caldolor, Children's Ibuprofen, ElixSure IB, Genpril , Ibren , IBU, Midol, Midol Cramps and Body Aches, Motrin, Motrin Children's, Motrin IB, Motrin Infants', Motrin Junior Strength, Motrin Migraine Pain, PediaCare Children's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, PediaCare Infants' Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, Samson-8 |
acetaminophen |
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever |
