What is a Low-Grade Fever?
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• What is a Low-Grade Fever?

If you’re feeling a little feverish during cold and flu season, a low-grade fever might be the cause. But just what is a low-grade fever? In general, a fever is any body temperature above 98.6° F (though there are natural fluctuations between individuals). A low-grade fever is a body temperature higher than 98.6° F and below 100.4° F, maintained over a 24-hour period. If your fever climbs, it is no longer a “low-grade” fever and could be cause for concern, particularly if it hits 103° or higher. 

Fevers help your body fight infection by increasing your body temperature to levels that bacteria and viruses cannot thrive in, so while they can be uncomfortable they can also help you recover from colds and the flu. Not all colds or flu will come with a fever, but some do, so it’s a good idea to keep a thermometer in your medicine cabinet. It is important to monitor your temperature to ensure that it does not reach dangerous levels. 

A low-grade fever might be one more on a long list of lousy cold and flu symptoms, but there are ways to recognize it quickly and treat it.

Symptoms of a Low-Grade Fever

Some signs of low-grade fever include the following:

1. Headache
2. Fatigue
3. Sweating,
4. Shivering
5. Muscle fatigue or aches

If you have a low-grade fever you may experience all or just some of these fever symptoms, so take your temperature to be sure.

What is the Flu?

Broadly speaking, the flu often feels worse than a cold. You might experience the same symptoms but amplified. The two most prominent flu symptoms—and what sets it apart from a cold—are fever and pain. Fever accompanying flu is often low-grade, and typically remains under 103 degrees. Other flu symptoms include sore throat, chills, runny or stuffy nose, muscle fatigue and headaches. The flu can also develop into more serious conditions and complications, making it more dangerous than the average cold. 

How to Treat a Cold or Flu with a Low-Grade Fever

Medicine with acetaminophen can help reduce fever symptoms. Be wary of combining acetaminophen and any other over-the-counter medications, which often contain acetaminophen as well. Adults should never exceed a total dose of 4000mg of acetaminophen in any 24-hour period. 

You can also try holding a cool, damp cloth to your forehead or the back of your neck to relieve the heat of a low-grade fever. If you’re shivering, pile on the blankets and make sure you’re wearing cozy socks and layers. As with any cold or flu, drink plenty of fluids. If you’re sweating more due to a low-grade fever you might need to focus more on staying hydrated. Sports drinks can help particularly helpful in replacing lost electrolytes. Make sure you rest so that your body can focus its energy on healing and fighting infection.  

You should monitor your temperature closely while you’re sick and call a doctor it climbs to 103° or higher. If your fever lasts longer than 2 days, no matter what the temperature, you should consult a doctor. Finally, you should call a doctor if you experience fever alongside any of these symptoms: stiff neck, shortness of breath, severe headache, extreme throat swelling, persistent vomiting, unusual skin rash or mental confusion. 

Don’t let your low-grade fever accompanying your cold or flu get you down! Mucinex® can help you get relief. Explore our fever relief tips and products, and feel better soon!

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Doctors recommend parents let child’s low grade fever run its course, skip the medication

Local News

February 20, 2023 / 12:53 PM
/ CBS/CNN

Doctors recommend letting child’s low grade fever run its course

Doctors recommend letting child’s low grade fever run its course
00:24

MIAMI – Many parents turn quickly to fever-reducing medication when their children begin to show signs of a fever, but pediatricians are warning that may not be needed.

According to a new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll, 1 in 3 parents would give their children medicine for a low-grade fever, defined as below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), and 1 in 2 parents would use medicine for a fever between 100.4 F and 101.9 F (38 C and 38.83 C).

These medications may keep your child comfortable, but unnecessary usage can postpone the diagnosis of what is causing the fever by masking the pain and other symptoms.

“When parents note that their child’s temperature might be a bit elevated, I think that sometimes they’re concerned about the fever itself,” said Dr. Susan Woolford, Mott pediatrician and Mott Poll codirector. “Maybe it’s not entirely clear to parents that the fever itself is not the concern, it is what might be causing the fever. So we don’t actually have to try to get rid of a fever, because the fever is just a sign that something else is happening.”

The Mott Poll was conducted with 1,376 parents of young children under the age of 12, and the responses were collected between August and September.

Eighty-four percent of parents will retake their child’s temperature before giving a second dose, but 26% of parents will give another dose, even if there is no fever present, in an attempt to prevent the fever from coming back, according to the poll.

Parents fear their children are “going to get super sick if (they) don’t give them something,” said Dr. Chandani DeZure, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics who was not involved with the Mott Poll. “That’s just not the case, because as we know, a fever is the body’s natural response to an infection.”

Fever-reducing medicine is not a preventive medicine, DeZure noted. “It’s a treatment.”

What to do if your child has a fever
Once the temperature has been accurately checked, and it’s confirmed the child has a fever above 100.4 F (38 C), it’s reasonable to give the correct dose of fever-reducing medicine according to the child’s weight and age in the medicine’s instructions, Woolford said.

The poll found that two-thirds of parents initially try alternate methods to reduce fevers, such as using a cool washcloth.

“The goal is to try to keep the child comfortable,” Woolford said. “To make sure they’re wearing light clothing, keep the room you know, cool, not cold, but comfortably cool and then to make sure that they stay well-hydrated.”

If an infant under 3 months old has a fever, however, parents should contact their pediatrician. If a child has a fever accompanied by significant symptoms such as extreme drowsiness, neck pain and difficulty breathing, parents should contact their pediatrician immediately, Woolford said.

Keep track of your children’s medication
Some 65% of parents had reported on keeping a record of the time they gave each dose, something all parents should do, according to the poll, so they don’t risk overdosing if a second dose is needed. They should not give another dose to prevent a fever from coming back, according to DeZure and Woolford.

“At this time of year, I feel like prevention is a really good approach, so that we can try to avoid having as many of these illnesses as possible,” Woolford said.

“You can’t do everything, but we can do a lot of hand hygiene, (we) can be sure that we’re washing hands and using hand sanitizer appropriately, and we can be sure that we’re not dosing children with medication and sending them off to school, because they’re still contagious.”

First published on February 20, 2023 / 12:56 PM

© 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CNN contributed to this report.

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Temperature without symptoms – “Our Joy”

Any increase in temperature in a child is a signal to be more attentive, monitor his condition and in no case panic.

But what if you have a fever but no symptoms? Is this a sign of a serious illness?

What are the hidden causes of fever?

Let’s take a look at different situations and determine when you can not postpone a visit to the doctor or call an ambulance, and when an asymptomatic temperature is a variant of the norm.

Some asymptomatic fluctuations in temperature have a logical explanation, but still require parental attention.

Overheating. This is especially often observed in children under one year old, in whom the thermoregulation of the body has not yet stabilized. Sometimes the cause of a sudden fever is over-wrapping the child, or staying too long in the heat or in a stuffy, unventilated room. If at the same time the child did not drink enough liquid, namely water, then the high temperature is quite understandable. However, if the temperature rises to 39degrees, and is accompanied by lethargy, diarrhea, increased sweating, you need to call a doctor even if you are sure that the cause is overheating. In this case, we can already talk about heat stroke, and its treatment requires the help of a doctor.

Emotional stress. Since the child’s psyche is not sufficiently stabilized, he is also subject to stress for a variety of reasons. Often, an increase in temperature without symptoms can be caused by prolonged hysteria, crying. Such a temperature passes quickly, and often simply goes unnoticed by parents. However, if this situation is repeated regularly, and the subfebrile temperature lasts for a long time even when the child has calmed down, it is necessary to contact the pediatrician. Most likely, he will refer you for a consultation with a psychologist or neuropsychologist.

Allergy. Of course, with allergies there are also external symptoms – a rash, irritation. But, since such skin manifestations last long enough, the temperature, which appears at some point, can be perceived by parents as asymptomatic. If the temperature is high, or slight, but lasts a long time, be sure to contact your pediatrician and allergist. Allergic-like reactions can sometimes be symptoms of more serious conditions.

Reaction to vaccination. In this case, an increase in temperature is a variant of the norm, and it can rise significantly, up to 38 degrees and last up to 3 days. But if the temperature rises to 38.5 and lasts longer than three days, call a doctor.

Teething. Indeed, an increase in temperature is possible, but it is a mistake to attribute any temperature to this. It is likely that since immunity is slightly reduced during teething, the child has picked up a small infection. And she needs attention.

Injury. Children often suffer from a variety of injuries, and often even minor injuries, scratches and cuts, can cause a fever. If the injury is more serious or does not heal for a long time, seeking medical attention is a must. A sharp rise in temperature can be a very alarming symptom in this case.

If any fever persists for a long time and there are no more obvious symptoms and logical explanations, and if the temperature rises from time to time for no reason, examination and treatment of the child is necessary.

And you can’t put it off. Such a temperature may be a symptom of an ongoing inflammatory process or a dangerous disease.

In this situation, a comprehensive examination of the child by various specialists is necessary, but you need to start with a pediatrician who will take a thorough history and develop a diagnostic plan. You may need examinations by different doctors, laboratory tests, ultrasound and functional diagnostics.

Most often, asymptomatic prolonged or intermittent fever may indicate the following problems:

• latent infections: latent bacterial pneumonia, specific viral infections, pneumococcal otitis media, acute pyelonephritis, meningitis, renal abscess, osteomyelitis, etc.;
• congenital diseases, most often heart defects;
• diseases of the nervous system: consequences of birth and traumatic brain injuries;
• pathologies: diabetes, leukemia, oncological diseases, rheumatological diseases, blood diseases, etc.

Temperature rises cannot be ignored and must be taken seriously. Even if the temperature is quickly and easily lost with the help of antipyretic drugs, this does not mean that there is no need to consult a pediatrician.

Remember that early diagnosis of many diseases allows them to be successfully treated.

When the temperature rises without obvious symptoms, it is just as necessary to show the child to the pediatrician as if they were present. At the Medical Center “Our Joy”, the pediatrician will examine the child and prescribe an examination plan. Doctors of more than 50 medical specialties are receiving at the medical center, as well as all the necessary diagnostics are carried out. Record by t. 46-22-33

Temperature 37 in an adult without symptoms of SARS: what to do

• Why is there a temperature of 37 °C without symptoms of a cold?
• What to do at a temperature of 37 ° C without symptoms?
• What to do with a temperature of 37 ° C when you feel unwell?
• What to do if the temperature stays at 37 °C all the time?

Sometimes it happens that the temperature of 37 ° C in an adult is kept, as we say, “for no reason”, that is, it is not accompanied by any symptoms. How to be in such a situation: bring down the temperature, go to the doctor, ignore?

In fact, there are always reasons for the rise in temperature. And it depends on them whether something needs to be done with a temperature of 37 ° C or not.

• Infection is the most common cause of this slightly elevated temperature. Cold symptoms may not appear at all (this means that the immune system easily and quickly defeated the infection due to a slight rise in temperature) or they may appear later. It should be borne in mind that the infection does not have to be respiratory, that is, “alarm bells” may sound from other affected systems. Indigestion, pain in the side or abdomen, an inflamed abrasion or boil are all symptoms of various infections that can cause a temperature rise of up to 37 ° C.
• The so-called “temperature tail” after ARVI, also known as subfebrile fever. Occurs after a severe or prolonged acute respiratory viral infection against the background of depletion of the immune or nervous system. The temperature of 37 ° C after SARS lasts up to 3-4 weeks in both adults and children.
• Non-communicable diseases: autoimmune problems, iron deficiency anemia, bronchial asthma, hyperthyroidism, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, hypothalamic diseases, oncological diseases. All of them cause an increase in temperature.
• Overheating in the sun or just being outside for a long time on a hot street or in a room with an above-normal temperature. Man is a physical body, therefore, he also heats up.
• Physical activity. Firstly, physical activity speeds up the metabolism, which leads to the fact that heat does not have time to be removed, so the temperature rises. Secondly, to obtain motor energy, the body burns nutrients, during this process, thermal energy is also released. When physical activity stops, the processes of “burning” do not stop immediately, heat continues to be released, sometimes this can continue for a day.
• Taking certain medications (antibiotics, norepinephrine, hormones).
• Severe stress. In some people, with an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, the so-called neurogenic hyperthermia occurs. The body reacts to stress with an increase in temperature, if stress becomes chronic, a temperature of 37 ° C can also last a long time without visible symptoms.
• Abundant food, especially requiring long digestion, heavy food.
• In women, the norm is an increase in temperature to 37 ° C on certain days of the cycle: immediately after ovulation and a week before menstruation.

First, analyze what has happened to you in recent days: could you overheat, what did you eat, did you go in for sports, what medicines did you take, were there any unpleasant emotional situations? It also does not hurt to look at the epidemiological situation in your area: is there an increase in the incidence of influenza or other acute respiratory viral infections. Think about whether you have met in the last 2-3 days with sick people. Remembering such things can be difficult, but still possible.

The next question you should ask yourself is why did you take your temperature at all? Feeling chills, fever?

Based on these conclusions, a decision must be made. If there were external factors raising the temperature, nothing needs to be done. If stress is to blame for everything, you need to relax (sometimes it’s enough to drink soothing teas 2-3 times a day), take an extra day off to relax, and reduce psychological pressure.

If you have not encountered external factors that increase the temperature, most likely you have caught an infection. If this is SARS, it is advisable to start acting as soon as possible. But do not bring down the temperature of 37 ° C, let the body cope on its own, because such a temperature with SARS is a way to destroy the infectious agent.

First use Breathe Oil® , a composition of six natural pure essential oils and levomenthol. Dyshi® oil is applied to a napkin or cotton pad, it evaporates and destroys pathogenic viruses and bacteria in the air and in the respiratory tract – that is, it fights infection. Dyshi® oil is often used to prevent SARS, but it is also useful during illness. Studies have shown that Oil of Breath® reduces the duration of the disease and reduces the risk of complications by 71%. The antiviral effect of Dyshi® Oil has been confirmed by the Research Institute of Influenza. The second important “medicine” in this situation is a plentiful warm drink. It washes away infectious agents from the mucous membranes of the throat, reduces the symptoms of intoxication, and improves overall well-being. If possible, take a day or two off from work or work in a more gentle mode.

If the temperature persists for more than a week, it’s time to see a doctor and go through all the examinations that will be prescribed. There are many diseases that cause persistent subfebrile temperature, not a single doctor can determine by eye what is happening to you.