What is fever?

Fever

What is the Fever?

You have probably always heard that the average body temperature of a person is 98.6 F. But the fact is that the "normal" body temperature can fall over a wide range, from 97 F to 99 F. The frequency is low in the morning and rises during the day. It rises in the afternoon or evening, sometimes reaching 1 or 2 degrees.

If you are healthy, you do not need to take your temperature regularly. But you should check it often if you feel sick or if you think you may have been exposed to diseases such as COVID-19. Almost everyone who catches a new coronavirus has a fever or a higher temperature than normal. Most also have fatigue and dry fever.

98.6 Myth

98.6 F average days are in the mid-1800's. German physician Carl Wunderlich estimated the temperature in the armpits of about 25,000 people and rose by an average of 98.6 °F.

New research shows that prices have already dropped. In a recent review, scientists looked at temperature records from three times between 1860 and 2017. The average oral temperature dropped by about 1 degree to 97.5 F. A person's age, gender, or weight did not make a difference, and time of day.

Doctors have many theories as to why the temperature may drop. Includes

Weight loss rates. Your body uses energy so that all your systems can function as they should. This creates heat. But people may have lower metabolic rates now because they measure up more than they had centuries ago. The less heat your body produces, the lower your temperature.

Low rates of infection. By the 19th century, such diseases as tuberculosis, syphilis, and chronic gum disease were all too common. As a result, most people had high body temperature.

Better thermometers. We can have more accurate thermometers than people have in the last century.

Without a new study, doctors would not think you had a fever until your temperature was above 100.4 F. But you could get sick if it was lower than that.

Adult bodies do not respond to disease in the way that young people do. Severe infections often cause symptoms such as confusion or weight loss rather than the flu in adults. Doctors consider a temperature of 2 degrees higher than normal as a sign of infection.

Also, computer drugs such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are fever-reducing agents. They may hide the high temperature if you take them for another symptom such as pain.

How to Capture Your Temperature

A thermometer is the only way to know if you have a fever. Touch and scratching skin tests are not reliable. Rectal thermometers, which fit into your back end, are very accurate, but not uncomfortable. Thermometers, armpits, ears, and foreheads are less accurate. Many doctors think that the oral thermometer - which you hold under your tongue - is the best. Do not use an old glass thermometer. These contain mercury, which is harmful.

Before using an oral thermometer, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Do not eat or drink anything for at least 5 minutes before taking your temperature. Insert the tip of the thermometer under your tongue. Keep your mouth shut. After 30 or 40 seconds, the thermometer will release. That means the final reading is ready. Oral temperature is about 1/2 to 1 degree cooler than rectal, so add more to your reading. When finished, rinse the thermometer in cold water, rinse it with alcohol, and wash again.

If you have a child under 3, a rectal thermometer can be easier and more accurate. Add a small amount of lubricating oil such as petroleum jelly to its application. Ask your baby to lie on his stomach, then insert a thermometer under the tip until the tip is inside. Do not force it. If you hear a beep, after 30 seconds, remove it. Inspect it and clean it again.

When to Call a Doctor

If your temperature is between 100 and 102, drink plenty of fluids and relax. You can take a fever remover if you like.

Call your doctor if your temperature is above 102 F and does not drop within an hour after taking the Fever.

In case of COVID-19

If you have a cough or shortness of breath and think you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, call your doctor to discuss the following steps.

Always call your doctor if you have any fever and headache, stiff neck, swollen throat, or confusion. They can be symptoms of a serious condition, such as strep throat or meningitis.

Even if you do not have these symptoms, your doctor may tell you to take your temperature from time to time, such as in the morning or at night. You can record readings and report back