When Is a High Temperature Considered a Fever?

So many illnesses are already making the rounds this season, so chances are that someone in your household has already gotten sick. While there are a wide variety of symptoms that come with being sick, one common symptom across many illnesses is a fever!

In most cases, fevers are our body’s natural immune response when fighting off illness, which aids in helping you feel better. Our AFC Urgent Care NC team explains how fevers can help you recover below.

How Does a Fever Help You Fight Illness?

The typical baseline body temperature for adults is 98.6 degrees. Our body temperatures fluctuate a little every day, so an official fever is not diagnosed until your body temperature reaches 100.4 degrees or higher. When your body develops a fever, it has recognized something as an invader and is working to create a hostile environment for the bacteria or virus to grow and replicate.

When you have a fever, your body’s white blood cells can also work more effectively while reducing the growth or reproductive rate of your current illness. Some fevers may not cause you to feel any symptoms, while others can make you feel really miserable.

What a Fever Can Feel Like

  • Elevated body temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher
  • Chills, shivering or shaking
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Sweating or flushed skin

When Do I Need to Worry About a Fever?

The vast majority of fevers are just minor inconveniences and don’t pose a threat to you. Once your body starts to overcome the illness, your fever should go away. If it fails to go away on its own, keeps coming back or reaches 103 degrees or higher, visit with your care team quickly so they can investigate the reasoning further.

While rare, really high fevers can start to affect your bodily systems. An untreated high fever can eventually lead to organ damage or even brain damage. Again, this is relatively rare, and most at home remedies like rest, fluids and OTC medication will do the trick.

Accompanying Fever Symptoms to Watch For

  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion
  • High fever with a rash
  • Seizures
  • Dehydration

Do you have a fever that just won’t break? Come see us at one of our AFC Urgent Care NC locations.