Cold Fever

Cold Fever

What is fever?

Fever is an increase in your body’s temperature to a range that is above normal (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Normal body temperature can change throughout the day by a few degrees. Various factors can increase your body temperature including eating, physical activity, medications, surrounding (room or outdoor) temperature, or a strong emotional response.

Part of your body’s natural defense response to infection is to raise the body temperature. Most pathogens survive best at normal body temperature. Therefore, raising the temperature is your body’s natural way of killing the infectious agent or preventing its spread.

An oral temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit in a child and over 99 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit in adults is considered a fever. Fever can be caused by fairly benign conditions, such as a cold, or by serious conditions, such as influenza and meningitis. Infant teething, recent immunization, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, and some cancers can cause a fever as well.

Despite their beneficial contribution to fighting infection, an extremely high fever can lead to seizures (called a febrile seizure) in children. These seizures do not usually cause permanent harm, but you should visit your health care professional if your child experiences a seizure. Seek emergency care if a seizure lasts more than a couple of minutes.

If your fever lasts more than 48 hours, is associated with other alarming signs, or causes you concern,seek prompt medical care. Fever in infants and very young children can quickly become serious, so exercise caution if your baby develops a fever. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have a fever with excessive crying, difficulty breathing, stiff neck, or confusion. These are signs of a serious or life-threatening illness that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.

What other symptoms might occur with fever?

Fever may be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Fever is usually a sign of infection, which often leads to a variety of symptoms. This section describes relatively common as well as more serious symptoms that may accompany a fever.

Symptoms may occur along with fever

Fever may occur with other common symptoms including:

• Aches and pains
• Chills
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Earache
• Flushed face
• General ill feeling
• Hot, dry skin
• Lethargy
• Nausea
• Rash
• Sweating
• Vomiting

  Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

  In some cases, fever may occur with other symptoms and certain combinations of symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Be particularly concerned about fever in infants two months of age or younger. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms:

  • Bluish coloration of the lips or fingernails
  • Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
  • Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions
  • Crying inconsolably
  • Extremely watery diarrhea, possibly with blood
  • High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, and choking
  • Seizure
  • Stiff neck with nausea or vomiting and possible confusion
  • Very bad headache

  What is fever?

  Fever is an increase in your body’s temperature to a range that is above normal (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Normal body temperature can change throughout the day by a few degrees. Various factors can increase your body temperature including eating, physical activity, medications, surrounding (room or outdoor) temperature, or a strong emotional response.

  What causes fever?

  Fever is a sign of many different types of infections