Normal body temperature can range from 97-99 degrees. When it becomes elevated, this is a called a fever. While most people know that a fever can be a sign of illness, it does not always require treatment. Knowing when to seek medical care for a fever can help protect you and your family’s health. At Rapid Healthcare, we welcome patients who need fever treatment at our walk-in clinic in Bolingbrook, IL.
Fever – Signs and Symptoms
While 98.6 degrees is considered a “normal” temperature, many people range a degree lower or higher. The temperature of the body is regulated by the hypothalamus in the brain. When the body is fighting an infection or disease, the temperature may be raised to help fight microbes causing illness. Fevers can also occur due to injury, exertion, pain, medications and other non-illness-related conditions. To determine whether a fever is present, the body temperature can be taken by a thermometer on the forehead or in the mouth, anus or ear. Oral and anal thermometers are the most accurate – for infants, anal thermometers are recommended.
When the body has a fever, it is common to feel cold or have “chills.” You may sweat, shake and desire blankets or more clothing to stay warm. Many people have body aches, headaches, dehydration, loss of appetite or weakness when they are experiencing a fever.
When to Seek Medical Treatment
A fever on its own is rarely a reason to seek medical treatment, but it can alert you to an illness along with other symptoms. Infants are the exception – a temperature in an infant less than three months old over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should be reported to your doctor or pediatrician. Temperatures above 102 may require treatment if they last for more than a few days, even with no other symptoms. Anyone who has a fever accompanied with the following symptoms should seek medical treatment:
- Shortness of breath
- Stiffness in the neck
- Severe headache
- COVID-19 symptoms
At Rapid Healthcare, we offer same day appointments and fever treatment at our medical clinic in Bolingbrook, IL. Contact us today! Our primary care physicians and medical staff can evaluate your symptoms and fever to provide diagnosis, testing and treatment.