Buzz
Fever occurs when the body temperature exceeds the normal range (between 36.7 and 37.8°C). It is often accompanied by various illnesses, and depending on the cause, it could indicate either a mild or serious health issue. The most accurate way to measure body temperature is by using a thermometer. However, if one is unavailable, there are still ways to assess the symptoms to determine if emergency care is needed.
Steps
Check for Fever Symptoms
Touch the forehead or neck of the patient. The most common method for detecting fever without a thermometer is to feel the patient's forehead or neck to see if it is warmer than usual.
- Use the back of your hand, as the palms are less sensitive than other parts of the skin.
- Avoid checking the hands or feet, as they can be cold even if the body temperature is elevated.
- Remember, this is just an initial step to detect any issues, but it cannot definitively tell if the fever is dangerous. Sometimes, the patient's skin may feel cold and damp even with a high fever, and other times, the skin may feel hot despite not having a fever.
- Ensure the room temperature is neither too hot nor too cold when checking the patient's skin temperature, and avoid doing so immediately after they have sweated from exercise.
Observe if the patient's skin is flushed. A fever can sometimes cause the skin on the patient's cheeks and face to turn red. However, this may be difficult to detect if the person has dark skin.
Check if the patient is becoming drowsy. Fever is often accompanied by lethargy or exhaustion, such as moving slowly, speaking in a sluggish manner, or refusing to get out of bed.
- Children with fever may complain of fatigue or weakness, avoid playing outside, or lose their appetite.
Ask the patient if they are experiencing pain. Muscle and joint aches sometimes accompany a fever.
- Headaches are also common when experiencing a fever.
Check if the patient is dehydrated. During a fever, dehydration can occur rapidly. Ask if they feel thirsty or if their mouth is dry.
- If the patient's urine is dark yellow, this is a sign of dehydration and may indicate a fever. Darker urine than usual can be a more serious indicator of dehydration.
Ask the patient if they are feeling nauseous. Nausea is an important symptom of fever or other illnesses like the flu. Pay attention to whether the patient is experiencing nausea, vomiting, or is unable to keep food down.
Note if the patient is shivering or sweating. When body temperature fluctuates rapidly, the patient may experience chills and feel cold, even though others in the room feel comfortable.
- The patient may feel hot and cold due to the fever. As the temperature rises and falls unpredictably, the patient may shiver, while others nearby still feel normal.
Handle a seizure lasting more than 3 minutes during a fever. Febrile seizures occur before or while a child is experiencing a high fever. If the temperature exceeds 39.4°C, the child may experience hallucinations. For every 20 children under 5 years old, one will have a febrile seizure at some point. While it may be alarming to witness a child having a seizure, this condition does not cause permanent harm. Here's how to manage a febrile seizure:
- Place the child on their side in a spacious or flat area.
- Do not try to hold the child down or put anything in their mouth while they are seizing. Don’t worry, they cannot swallow their tongue!
- Stay with the child after the seizure ends, for 1-2 minutes.
- Position the child on their side in a recovery posture while they recover.
Assess the Severity
Seek immediate medical attention if the child's seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes. This could be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Call emergency services at 115 and keep the child lying on their side in a recovery position. You should also seek urgent medical care if the febrile seizure is accompanied by:
- Vomiting
- Neck stiffness
- Breathing difficulties
- Extreme drowsiness
Contact the doctor if the child’s symptoms do not improve or worsen. If the child is between 6-12 months old and has a fever above 38.9°C, contact a doctor immediately. If the child is younger than 3 months and has a fever above 38°C, you should also reach out to a doctor. Ensure the child stays hydrated and encourage them to rest.
Seek medical care if the patient experiences severe abdominal pain, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, or stiff neck. These symptoms may indicate meningitis, a highly contagious and life-threatening disease.
Call a doctor if the patient shows signs of agitation, confusion, or hallucinations. These symptoms could be a warning sign of a bacterial or viral infection, such as pneumonia.
Seek medical attention if there is blood in the stool, urine, or mucus. This could be a sign of a more serious infectious disease.
Seek medical care if the patient's immune system is already weakened due to another condition like cancer or AIDS. Fever may indicate that their immune system is under attack, leading to complications or other diseases.
Consult a doctor about other serious conditions that could cause fever. Fever can be triggered by a variety of different illnesses. Ask the doctor if the fever could be a sign of the following conditions:
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- Heat exhaustion or sunburn
- Arthritis
- A malignant tumor
- Antibiotics or blood pressure medications
- Vaccines for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
Managing a Fever at Home
Manage a fever at home if the temperature is below 39.5°C and the patient is over 18 years old. A fever is the body's way of trying to heal or recover, and most fevers resolve on their own after a few days.
- You can reduce the fever with appropriate treatments.
- Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. Medication is not always necessary, but it can help alleviate discomfort. You can use over-the-counter fever reducers like aspirin or ibuprofen.
- Contact a doctor if symptoms persist for more than 3 days or if symptoms worsen.
Treat a child's fever by ensuring they drink plenty of fluids and rest if they do not show any severe symptoms. Children and teenagers should avoid taking aspirin, as it is linked to Reye's disease.
- If your child has a fever below 38.9°C, you can manage the fever at home.
- Visit a doctor if the fever lasts more than 3 days or if the symptoms worsen.
Advice
- Keep in mind that the most accurate way to measure temperature at home is by using a thermometer. The most reliable areas to measure temperature are the rectum and under the tongue, or using an ear thermometer. Measuring under the arm is often inaccurate.
- See a doctor if your child is under 3 months old and has a temperature above 37.8°C.
Warning
- Do not rely on the “hand temperature check” method. Although this is a common way to distinguish body temperature, placing a hand on the forehead doesn't provide an accurate measurement. Additionally, this method is unreliable if the person checking has a different average body temperature than yours.
