When to Go to ER for Fever

How do you know when to go to the ER for a fever? Because fevers are often treated at home, people don’t tend to think that a fever warrants medical attention. While this is true for low-grade fevers, it is necessary to go to the ER for higher-grade fevers. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, your fever persists longer than three days, or your body temperature is 103 degrees or higher, seek emergency care immediately.

A fever occurs when your body temperature rises over the normal temperature of about 98 degrees. A doctor typically won’t diagnose you with a fever unless your body temperature is at 100.4 degrees or higher. This raise in temperature is usually a sign that your body is trying to fight something off like an infection.

Here are ways to tell the difference between a common fever that can be treated at home versus a fever that warrants emergency care.

Common fever symptoms

Depending on what may be causing your fever, common fever symptoms may include:

• Body temperature of 100. 4 degrees or higher
• Shivers
• Sweats
• Dehydration
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Achy muscles

These symptoms are deemed normal and non-threatening and can be treated at home with lots of fluids, rest, over-the-counter medications, and whatever you can do to keep cool to reduce your body temperature.

Your fever should subside within 1–3 days, but if that is not the case, there could be a more serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed. The best way to tell if you need to seek emergency care for a fever is to monitor your temperature, your symptoms, and the duration of your fever.

What temperature is a fever high enough to go to the hospital?

As we have mentioned earlier, a body temperature of 100 degrees or higher is standard for an adult fever. However, if your body temperature rises to 103 degrees or higher, you should seek emergency care.

When is a fever too high for a child?

Fevers in children are very common due to regular contact with other children in environments like classrooms. However, a high-grade fever is 102 degrees or higher for children older than three months and is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Feeling lethargic
• Vomiting
• Consistent crying
• Confusion

If your child is younger than three months, take them to a doctor as soon as you detect the fever.

Severe fever symptoms

While common fever symptoms are mainly uncomfortable, severe fever symptoms can be debilitating if you don’t seek medical attention. Here are some warning signs that your fever may be more serious than you think:

• Abdominal pain
• Skin rash
• Difficulty breathing
• Earache
• Bruising
• Persistent vomiting
• Pain while urinating

It’s also important to note that if you have a history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV, it’s best to play it safe and call your doctor when you come down with a fever.

How long should you wait to go to ER for fever?

If your fever persists for more than three days, it may be time to seek emergency care. For some people, basic home remedies like rest and over-the-counter fever medications including anti-inflammatories do not get the job done to break the fever.

So, what can the ER do for a fever?

The physicians at the emergency room will likely do a thorough examination to unveil the root of the sickness and begin the necessary treatment. A common treatment done in emergency rooms is IV fluids for dehydration to ensure that your body gets enough fluids at a quicker rate and that your organs get enough blood. An emergency room will also have lower wait times than a standard hospital so you can get in and begin to feel better in less time.

Complete Care offers full fever treatment 24/7

Knowing when to go to the ER for fever can put your mind at ease when either yourself or your child comes down with a fever. Although fevers are common illnesses that can be treated at home, there are cases of fever that indicate a more serious problem and they deserve medical attention.

The medical experts at Complete Care are here to provide outstanding fever treatment for you and the whole family. With ER locations across Texas and in Colorado Springs, quality care is never far away. No appointments are necessary.

More Helpful Articles by Complete Care:

• Is Paddleboarding Safe While Pregnant?
• 7 of the Most Common Hand and Wrist Injuries
• Cycling Road Rash Care
• What to Do After a Bike Fall: Bike Accident Injury Treatment
• The Difference Between Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain

Share this on

When Should You Seek Emergency Help?

October 14, 2019

— Emergency Care, Health & Safety Tips

Typically, adults
don’t worry about fevers, unless their child is sick. However, kids aren’t the
only ones who get fever. Similar to childhood fevers, most adult fevers are
harmless and short-lived.

It can be draining
when your body temperature spikes and it is followed by waves of chills. This
familiar roller coaster experience of symptoms usually point in one direction –
the onset of a fever.

More than just a
symptom of an infection or illness, a fever can be a friend. You might have heard that a mild fever is
an indication that your immune system is doing a good job. It ensures that your
immune system is taking proper action in defending your body against an
offending bacteria or virus.

At times, however, a prolonged fever merit attention, as it may be a symptom of a serious illness. A fever may pose a real threat to health in some extreme cases and may warrant a trip to your local emergency room in Corpus Christi, TX.

Is it a fever?

For an adult, the
average normal body temperature is 37°C or 98.2°F. Medical professionals agree
that a temperature of more than 38°C or 100.4°F is a sign of fever. Note that
the body temperature is different throughout the day; it is normally higher in
the afternoon.

What causes it?

Those who have a
fever typically have an unwelcome bacteria or virus. Once your body detects an
intruder, it triggers cellular mechanisms that helps your body fight the
infection. Your internal thermostat resets, and your body temperature rises
gradually. This makes life a bit harder for the invading virus or bacteria.

Other possible
causes of fever include cancer, reactions to certain medications or drugs, or
some inflammatory conditions like Still’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment

Most fevers
resolve on their own after a few days. However, you can take steps to speed
your recovery.

• Normally,
  fevers can be brought down by common medications for pain like acetaminophen or
  ibuprofen.
• Hydrate.
  Drink lots of liquids like fruit juices and water. This will help prevent
  dehydration and will cool you down from the inside.
• Rest.
  Listen to your body and stay home to rest. Subjecting yourself to stress will
  postpone your recovery.
• Stay
  cool. Dress comfortably and reduce the temperature of your home.

When should you
seek medical help?

Call your doctor
if:

• Your
  fever lasted for more than 3 days.
• Your
  temperature rises above 103°F.
• You
  experience chest pain or difficulty breathing along with fever symptoms.

When should you
go to the emergency room?

A fever can be a medical emergency. Go to your nearest emergency room in Corpus Christi, TX right away if:

• Your
  fever is accompanied by nausea, headache, a stiff neck, confusion, or a rash.
  You may have meningitis.
• You
  were exposed to very high temperatures and experiencing confusion, a rapid
  heartbeat, or dizziness – you may be experiencing a heat stroke.
• Your
  fever is high and is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, tiredness, headache,
  dizziness, and confusion – you may be experiencing Toxic Shock Syndrome.

How to raise the temperature: 5 quick and safe ways

. Why do this and why low temperature is dangerous

Updated on October 31, 2022, 20:02

Shutterstock

Most often, the body temperature drops due to the fact that a person is cold, but sometimes it is a consequence of a systemic failure in the body. In the first case, it is easier to raise the temperature – it is enough to warm up, in the second case it is much more difficult to “deceive” the body. RBC Life asked doctors what temperature can be considered low, how to increase it, and whether anything should be done if the thermometer shows a value below 36.6.

Contents

1. Causes
2. Dangerous symptoms
3. How to raise

Causes of low temperature

Shutterstock

Each healthy person has his own body temperature, which fits into the range from 35.2 to 37 degrees (when measured in the armpit) [1]. However, during life and even one day, these indications can change, both in one direction and in the other. This is influenced by metabolic rate, time of day, age, temperature and humidity of the environment, physical activity and other factors. Thus, focusing on the well-known 36.6 degrees, according to doctors, is not entirely true.

“Some people live their whole lives with a temperature of 35. 5, feel good and for them this is a variant of the norm,” says Alexei Paramonov, PhD, therapist, general director of the Rassvet clinic. “Moreover, there are studies that over the past two centuries, people in general have become “colder” and the average body temperature has decreased by about one degree [2]. Scientists attribute this to the trend of slowing down the metabolism.”

But it also happens that a low temperature is a symptom of some problems. According to Dr. Paramonov, this may indicate the following violations:

• thyroid dysfunction;
• a problem with the production of glucocorticoid hormones in the adrenal glands;
• iron deficiency.

In addition, low temperature accompanies [3]:

• severe hypothermia;
• previous injuries;
• mental illness;
• alcohol or drug abuse.

Aleksey Paramonov PhD, gastroenterologist, therapist, general director of the Rassvet clinic

“Low temperature is not the most common occurrence. Yes, in most healthy people, it can drop to less than 36 degrees from time to time, but this is not dangerous, since the body itself accelerates the basal metabolism and warms up. A critical decrease in temperature is usually the result of severe hypothermia. The only acute disease accompanied by a decrease in temperature is, perhaps, cholera. It occurs, fortunately, rarely, and the facts of its detection are under strict control of the sanitary authorities.

Dangerous symptoms of low temperature

Shutterstock

The first thing a person notices when the temperature starts to drop is shivering. This is an automatic protection of the body from the cold and its attempt to warm up. In medicine, this condition is called hypothermia, and it has three stages depending on body temperature readings.

According to Dr. Paramonov, it is considered dangerous to drop the temperature to 34 degrees. When it drops to 30 degrees, resuscitation measures are required. For example, with systemic hypothermia, warming and heat-reflecting capes, electric and chemical heating pads, heated beds and blankets are used.

Severe hypothermia is a dangerous condition in which all body systems cannot function normally. Symptoms of a severe decrease in body temperature include:

• trembling;
• slow breathing, weak pulse;
• slurred speech, drowsiness, lack of energy and strength;
• incoordination, confusion of thought;
• loss of consciousness.

How to Raise Body Temperature

Unsplash

Alexander Lavrishchev, therapist, leading specialist of the network of clinics “Semeynaya”

“If you have measured your body temperature and see a figure below 36.1 degrees, but nothing bothers you, then you do not need to do anything about it. Roughly speaking, your brain sets the settings, and the thermal core inside maintains the specified range. Therefore, it is useless to raise the body temperature of those who have it asymptomatically reduced. The core, following the settings of the brain, will not let itself be fooled and will still return everything to its original state. Another question is if a person is very cold. In this case, you need to call an ambulance.

In other cases, if you are a little cold, try to get into a warm room as soon as possible – “in the moment” it really helps. If desired, you can increase body temperature in other ways. But you should not count on a significant and long-term increase in degrees.

How can you raise your body temperature?

1. Do physical exercise

Physical exercise can increase body temperature [4]. A few quick jumps from place to place, walking or light stretching will increase the heart rate and improve blood circulation, which in turn will give a feeling of warmth and increase body temperature.

Alexander Lavrishchev:

“Physical activity really helps to keep warm, for example, in the cold. But it must be remembered that not all people can be physically active for a long time, and for some elderly or chronically ill people, physical activity in the cold may be completely contraindicated. Therefore, the easiest and safest option is to try to quickly move into the heat.

2. Eat something spicy

Spicy food can warm the body from the inside. Capsaicin is responsible for this, a substance found in some foods, such as red peppers. Participants in the experiment ate one gram of this pepper, and a few hours later their body temperature was measured. For some, it increased slightly [5]. Capsaicin really has the ability to irritate the shells of the body, increasing the blood flow in them. However, if you have any diseases of the stomach, intestines or allergies, then it is better not to risk it.

3. Cook high-calorie food

Energy is needed to maintain thermoregulation. The body receives it from the calories that we consume with food. That is why a person can feel cold in the body when he is hungry or sits on a low-calorie diet for a long time [6]. If you need to raise the temperature, then try to cook a high-calorie and carbohydrate-rich dish, preferably hot. This will give your body energy for metabolism and temperature regulation.

Alexander Lavrishchev:

“High-calorie food is especially necessary if you plan to be out in the cold for a long time. For example, go hiking, work outdoors, or plan a long winter walk.”

4. Restore water balance

The human body also uses water to stabilize its temperature. The fluid is able to accumulate heat and release it for a long time, so in each cell, water acts as a buffer against sudden temperature changes. For example, in case of poisoning or severe dehydration, not only weakness, but also a low temperature may appear. To make up for the lack of moisture in the body, drink non-carbonated water, and to warm up – warm tea or dried fruit compote.

Alexander Lavrishchev:

“Hydrobalance maintenance is one of the body’s thermoregulation ways. In the long term, dehydration is dangerous in itself, so be sure to drink enough fluids every day. ”

5. Get warm in the sauna or by the heater

Warm air helps the body to warm up. To make the temperature a little higher, you can go to the bathhouse, wrap up warmer, sit by the heater or stand under a hot shower.

Alexander Lavrishchev:

“The heat coming from outside helps our thermal core to heat up the surface layers of the body faster. This is the fastest and most reliable way. Our ancestors, who loved to lie on the stove and thereby warm up, were very right.”

6. Perform breathing exercises

You can take a deep breath, hold your breath, exhale. And so on for several cycles. Breathing saturates us with oxygen and accelerates blood circulation, which affects body temperature. However, it is important to remember that the inhaled air should be warm, but not cold.

Share

Article content

Authors

Tags

Nadezhda Gurina

You may be interested

How to quickly and safely raise body temperature at home

9 0002 There are many factors that affect a kind of biological marker, which will be discussed speech in our article. The temperature shows the current state of the body and varies depending on the level of activity, time of day, age. But if it rises or falls significantly, this may signal pathologies. We will tell you how you can safely raise your body temperature to normal.

Tags:

Health

Food

Accessories

Coronavirus

Diseases

One of the important indicators of our health is body temperature. It reflects the relationship between the heat generated by various organs and tissues and the heat exchange that occurs between the body and its environment. Not everyone knows what to do if the body temperature is very low. When the skin seems cold, coffee, rubbing, and a pencil lead are used. We will touch on less controversial methods that do not harm the body.

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

What does low body temperature mean? We will only add that values ​​from 36.1 to 37.2 ° C also do not necessarily indicate the onset of the disease. For example, in women, it decreases the day before ovulation, and then rises to a maximum of 37.4 ° C. And when we fall asleep, all processes in the body slow down, and the indicator slightly rushes down (closer to 36 degrees). But it is necessary to raise the body temperature as soon as the thermometer stops at 35.5 ° C while awake.

Hypothermia refers to core body temperature below 35 degrees. Her symptoms progress from chills, sheer trembling, paleness, shortness of breath, and drowsiness to confusion, coma, and death. The most common causes of hypothermia are:

• prolonged exposure to cold
• prolonged exposure to wet clothes
• immersion in ice water
• large blood loss
• anemia
• depression 9 0014
• body intoxication
• Hypothalamic involvement
• Taking certain medications

ADVERTISING – CONTINUED BELOW

In case of a sharp decrease in the indicator, which is accompanied by life-threatening symptoms, severe hypothermia, an ambulance will be required. You can arm yourself with basic ways to quickly raise your body temperature and give yourself or another person first aid.

How to quickly and safely raise body temperature

In addition to the above reasons, there are a number of factors that increase the risk of hypothermia. These include fatigue, old age and infancy, alcohol consumption. We list the options for raising the body temperature to 36.6 in an adult.

1. Do some exercise

The easiest way to both raise your body temperature at home and increase your body tone is to take time to exercise. You can jump in place, do squats, or do other energy-intensive exercises. As soon as you see drops of sweat, rejoice – the thermometer is rising. Sweat testifies to us that the body has begun the process of natural cooling.

2. Have hot drinks or meals

As soon as the divisions on the thermometer shift, it will help to raise the low body temperature. They act stronger and more quickly than physical activity. The fact is that the body not only digests food, but also absorbs its heat. Choose any hot food and drink:

• coffee;
• tea;
• hot chocolate;
• warm milk with or without honey;
• hot broth;
• soup.

Another thing you can do for hypothermia is to eat foods that, due to their natural properties, increase body temperature. Among them are ginger, cumin, bananas, chocolate and honey. We just do not recommend using instant coffee with spoons. In large quantities, it can negatively affect the work of the heart and affect the pressure.

3. Wrap yourself up in warm material

Fleece is the most popular fabric in this series. Take a fleece robe or blanket and wrap yourself up in it. Some experts give the following recommendations on how to artificially raise body temperature. To do this, it is enough to wrap yourself in airtight synthetic materials, such as plastic bags or cling film.

4.

Put on a hat, scarf and mittens

Even if it’s September, take out accessories from the winter collection and pour yourself hot tea with honey. Raising the body temperature to 38 degrees, of course, will not work, since such a task is not worth it. But bringing the indicator back to normal is quite realistic. The fact is that a significant amount of heat comes from the head. So a hat will help warm your head and raise your overall body temperature.

5. Try on many layers

The easiest way to raise an adult’s body temperature is to dress up. A trendy reception combined with a hot meal will help increase body temperature by several degrees. Put on a shirt, sweatshirt, sweater, light jacket and thick coat at the same time. One of the layers of clothing can be replaced with thermal underwear.

6. Use a heating pad

Warm dry compresses and heating pads are a great way to raise your body temperature in 5 minutes. If you have a heating pad at home, pour not too hot water into it so as not to burn yourself.