If you have kids, you've probably spent some sleepless nights worrying about fevers. Kids tend to have them when they're young, and sometimes their fevers can be high enough to concern you. You've probably had fevers yourself when you have a cold or flu, although your temperature may not have been very high. Here's a look at when you should see a doctor when you have a fever as an adult, and what you can do to treat a fever at home.
See A Doctor When The Fever Lasts For Days
When you get a fever from a virus, it usually goes away after a few days when you begin recovering from your illness. There are several things that can cause a fever, and if your fever lasts for several days, you might have a hidden infection of some sort that the doctor needs to find and treat.
See A Doctor When You Have Serious Symptoms
You expect a fever when you have a sore throat or cough. However, if you have a fever and a stiff neck, severe nausea, a bad headache, internal pain, seizures, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of dehydration, you should seek immediate medical help. You should also call your doctor if your temperature reaches 103 degrees. In some cases, you may need to call 911 or get to a medical facility right away for treatment to bring down your fever.
Treat A Mild Fever At Home
A fever makes you feel achy and miserable, but it isn't always necessary to worry about treating it. If your fever is mild, you may let it run its course. If you want to reduce the fever, try an over-the-counter treatment for fever reduction. These drugs can also help with aches and other pains, like a sore throat. You should also try drinking cool fluids that can help to cool you down; as an added benefit, fluids can prevent dehydration from your fever.
If home treatments don't help, you may need to see a doctor for antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection. Your doctor may also want to run tests to find out why you have a fever, especially if you don't have a cold or any other obvious infection that could trigger a fever. Sometimes a fever can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, and other times a fever can happen as a side effect of medication. If you're worried about your fever, go to a medical clinic or call your doctor for an examination and treatment if it's needed.
