Fever is a sign that your body's immune system is active and fighting off an infection. This can be either a viral
or bacterial infection.
What does it mean by high or low-grade?
How high a fever is does not necessarily indicate the severity of the illness causing the fever. Our normal body temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Temperature between 98.8-100.6 is a low-grade fever and is not considered clinically significant although you may still have some symptoms and not feel well.
- Temperature between 101-102 is considered a mild fever
- Temperature between 102-103 is considered moderate and above 103 is high
Signs of a fever
- Headache
- Body aches
- Nausea (and sometimes vomiting)
- Feeling very hot and then cold with chills and shivering
- fatigue and weakness
Taking a temperature
Even if you are convinced by the way you feel that you have a fever, the only way to know for sure is to use a thermometer. Digital thermometers are very easy to use . You cannot rely on the "hands-on" technique"!
How to Treat a Fever
Do not use Aspirin!
- Take Acetaminophen (Tylenol), 2 tablets every 4-6 hours for fever, do not take more than 8 extra-strength Tylenol (500mg) tablets in one day.
- Take Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), 2-3 tablets every 4-6 hours. Do not use Ibuprofen if you have a history of aspirin allergy or a stomach ulcer.
- You can use both ibuprofen and Tylenol (acetaminophen) for fever control. You can alternate them, so that you can take one or the other every 2-3 hours if your fever is still up. For instance, if you take 2 Tylenol at 10am and still have a fever at noon, you can take Ibuprofen.
- Dress lightly and use a lukewarm bath or washcloths to help cool the body temperature.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If your fever is above 103 degrees F (39.4 C), you should speak with a health care provider immediately. If you have the following symptoms accompanying your fever, you should seek medical attention:
- prolonged headache
- confusion
- skin rash
- trouble breathing
- decreased urination
- fever more than 3 days
- fever that does not come down with Tylenol or Ibuprofen