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Know when to seek medical attention
| Health tips: When a fever becomes an emergency | | | Dear Reader,
Even when you’re well, your body temperature varies, and that variation is normal. Doctors usually consider 98.6 F a healthy body temperature. But your normal temperature may differ by a degree or more. In the morning, your temperature is generally lower, and in the afternoon it’s somewhat higher.
Often, a fever isn’t anything to worry about, but sometimes a fever should be evaluated, especially if it’s accompanied by other severe symptoms.
Contact a doctor in any of the following situations: A child or adult with a temperature of more than 103 F A child or adult with a temperature of more than 101 F for more than three days An infant younger than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher An infant older than 3 months with a temperature of 102 F or higher
Seek emergency medical care if any of these signs or symptoms accompany a fever: Severe headache Severe swelling of the throat Unusual skin rash Unusual eye sensitivity to bright light A stiff neck and significant neck pain when you bend your head forward Confusion or severe drowsiness Persistent vomiting or abdominal pain Difficulty breathing or chest pain Extreme listlessness, irritability or poor eye contact A seizure A bulging soft spot on a baby's head |
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Sometimes, a high fever can cause a seizure in an infant or a child. This is known as a febrile seizure. If this occurs, lay your child on his or her side, gently supporting the child's head, until the seizure ends. Cool your child gradually, using a damp sponge or cool compress and lukewarm water. Don't immerse your child in a cold bath. Seek urgent medical attention. Most febrile seizures aren't dangerous, but fever accompanied by a seizure also could be a sign of a serious illness.
Fever itself isn't an illness, but it’s often a sign of one. A fever tells you that something is happening inside your body. Most likely your body is fighting an infection caused by either a virus or a bacterium.
Yours in good health,
Dan Harke Mayo Clinic Press |
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