A fever is perhaps one of the most common medical conditions people get multiple times in their life. Be it a child or an adult; their body temperature can go high regardless of age. A fever is not worrisome in most cases unless it's accompanied by other severe symptoms indicating an illness. However, now people generally get worked up with their body temperature feels even the slightest bit higher than normal, thanks to the coronavirus.
Although the pandemic has almost come to a close, the virus itself remains a cause of concern for people worldwide. And since a fever is the most frequently manifested sign of an ailment, especially of the coronavirus, it alarms people to no end. Keeping that in mind, we decided to share all the necessary details about running a fever and when having one is something to worry about.
Typical Causes of a Fever
There are three common causes of fever.
- When a virus enters someone's body, in that case, the body's natural defence mechanism is triggered, increasing its temperature to combat the foreign agent that's penetrated the immune system.
- When someone is overdressed, this is typically the case with young kids, as parents like to bundle up their young ones in layers to keep the tiny humans safe from the breeze, particularly in the winter. Sometimes that can shoot up the body's temperature.
- After getting vaccinated, when a person is immunized, their body is exposed to an inactive virus, which their immune system sees as a threat, firing up the defence response. Resultantly, the body's internal temperature shoots up.
Fever in Kids
Kids are more likely to get a fever than adults because of their weak/developing immune systems. Their bodies are more susceptible to catching viruses, which is why their temperature can rise often. However, mostly, parents need not worry unless other signs are present.
If your child starts to exhibit other symptoms, such as vomiting, sore throat, diarrhoea, etc., you need to contact a doctor or run to the emergency room. Aside from that, if their fever gets too high, crossing the 38.9° Celsius mark on the thermometer, you should get medical aid.
It must be noted that the 38.9° Celsius rule doesn’t apply to kids younger than 3 months. If you have an infant, you need to seek a doctor’s advice even when there is a slight increase in the baby’s temperature. Be sure you have an accurate thermometer to check your little one’s fever.
Fever in Adults
A grown-up body is much stronger and can deal with bacteria and viruses much better than kids. Therefore, when an adult gets a fever, it's not worrisome, and it subsides after a while. But if it doesn't, then, of course, a doctor's prescription becomes necessary.
Here are all the scenarios in which you must go to the hospital to get yourself checked
- Your fever doesn't go down after taking medication (paracetamol) for it.
- It keeps returning every few days.
- You have underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, anaemia etc.
Although a fever is typically a good sign as it means a person’s body is fighting off an infection, it may become severe if it goes on for long. Moreover, if you have additional symptoms that keep getting worse, you should consult a doctor.