Understanding Fever

I don’t know where the “keep calm” slogan originated, but it certainly applies in the case of fever. Many people consider fever a bona fide emergency, especially in children.

But fever is just a symptom, usually due to a benign (minor) illness that is self-limited (will go away on its own). In less common circumstances, it is due to a serious or even life-threatening disease.

a woman taking her temperature — This photograph depicted a woman who was using a modern, battery-powered oral thermometer, in order to measure her body temperature. In order to return an accurate reading, this particular type of thermometer needed to be placed beneath the user’s tongue, for a set amount of time, beeping when the ambient, sublingual temperature was reached. Photo credit-James Gathany, CDC, public domain

“5 truths about fevers in children” explains that, and most of the content applies just as well to adults as children. One difference is that febrile seizures do not occur in adults.

A febrile seizure is one for which there is no other cause – the fever caused the seizure.

So if an older child, adolescent or adult with a fever has a seizure, that seizure must be due to something else; for example, meningitis, an infection of the brain lining, can cause fever and seizures; in that case the seizure is due to the infection, not the fever. In this case, the seizure is the emergency, not the fever.

Have a sick child? Here’s when to call the doctor

Symptoms for which evaluation should not be delayed if severe, persistent or worsening include

Difficulty breathing
Fainting, passing out
Hives, swelling, rash (due to an allergic reaction)
Lethargy or unexplained sleepiness
Severe pain
Vomiting and/or diarrhea if persistent or profuse
Burns
Bleeding, uncontrolled
Fever

Call 911, it’s an emergency! or is it?

An emergent medical condition is one that

Threatens life
Threatens one or more limbs
Threatens vision/hearing/speech/mental function/ function of any major internal organ or organ system
Has the potential, if not treated promptly, to cause death or long term and/or permanent harm.

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Author: Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.

As a family physician, I explore the HEART of HEALTH in my work, recreation, community, and through writing. My blog, Watercress Words, informs and inspires us to live in health. I believe we can turn our health challenges into healthy opportunities. When we do, we can share the HEART of health with our families, communities, and the world. Come explore and share with me. View all posts by Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.