Fever

Clinical answers to the most common patient questions about Fever.

What is Fever?

Fever is a body temperature above the normal range, usually 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. It is not an illness in itself but a sign that the body is responding to something — most often an infection. In most cases it settles on its own within a few days.

What are the symptoms of Fever?

Common symptoms of Fever include raised body temperature, chills or shivering, sweating, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and weakness, reduced appetite and dehydration.

What causes Fever?

Fever is commonly caused by viral infections such as flu or the common cold, bacterial infections, urinary tract infection, mosquito-borne illness such as dengue, malaria or chikungunya, typhoid and other food or water-borne infection, inflammatory conditions, reaction to a vaccine or medication and heat exhaustion.

Who is most at risk of Fever?

Risk factors for Fever include recent contact with someone who has an infection, travel to an area with endemic mosquito-borne illness, very young children and older adults, weakened immune system and chronic illness such as diabetes or kidney disease.

How is Fever diagnosed?

Fever is usually diagnosed using temperature measurement, clinical history and examination, blood tests including full blood count, malaria and dengue testing where relevant, urine examination and culture and chest X-ray where a chest infection is suspected.

How is Fever treated?

Treatment for Fever typically involves rest and adequate fluid intake, treating the underlying cause, antipyretic medication where a doctor advises it, antibiotics only where a bacterial infection is confirmed and hospital care for severe or persistent fever.

Can Fever be prevented?

Hand hygiene and food safety, mosquito protection where relevant, and staying up to date with recommended vaccinations.

When should someone see a doctor about Fever?

Seek medical advice about Fever if you experience temperature above 40°C (104°F), fever with a stiff neck, severe headache or sensitivity to light, fever with a rash that does not fade under pressure, difficulty breathing or chest pain, confusion, drowsiness or difficulty waking, fever in a baby under three months old, seizure and fever lasting more than five days.

What is the outlook for Fever?

Most fevers caused by common viral infections settle within three to five days without specific treatment. Outlook depends on the underlying cause; fever from a treatable infection generally resolves fully once that infection is addressed.