What is a fever?
A fever is a high body temperature, and is usually a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body. The degree of fever may not be indicative of the seriousness of the illness; a minor illness such as a cold may bring on a fever, while a serious infection may cause little or no fever.
For an adult a fever may be uncomfortable but usually isn’t dangerous unless it reaches 103° F. For young children and infants, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious infection. Children tend to have higher fevers than adults.
What is the treatment for a fever?
Visit a Take Care Health Provider to determine the course of treatment that is right for you, based on the length of time you have had the fever, the temperature, other symptoms and other factors. Often it is not advisable to lower a low-grade fever (<101° F), as doing so may prolong the illness or mask your symptoms and make it harder to determine the cause. If the cause of the fever is a bacterial infection such as pneumonia or strep throat, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Over the counter medications such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin) may also be recommended. Patients should drink plenty of fluids and get adequate rest to speed healing.