When Is a Fever Serious?

A normal body temperature ranges from 97.5°F to 98.9°F. In the medical world, a body temperature of 100.4°F or higher is a fever. Fevers are common, and you don’t always need to see the doctor when you have one.

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, our team provides urgent care for patients in and around Midland, Michigan, who are experiencing a fever. When do you need urgent care for a fever? Here, we explain when it’s time to take your fever seriously and come in for medical care.

What a fever means

A fever is a symptom that lets you know something unusual is going on in your body. Many people get fevers when they’re fighting off an infection. Allergies, teething, and menstruation may also cause higher than normal body temperatures.

Your body temperature may also go up during exercise, when you’re stressed, or if you’re wearing a lot of clothing. Immunizations and hot weather may also cause a fever.

Not all fevers require medical care. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the symptom. Some fevers are serious. 

When a fever is serious

How seriously you take a fever depends on many factors, including age of the person with a fever, how high their fever is, and what other symptoms are present.

Fevers in infants and toddlers are always serious. Contact your pediatrician or visit our urgent care clinic if:

• You have a baby younger than 3 months old with a temperature of 100.4°F
• You have a child between 3-24 months with a temperature of 102°F and a runny nose or who also seems less active than normal

Children age 2 and older with a temperature of 102°F or higher need medical attention if they have other symptoms like listlessness, confusion, or vomiting. In adults, a fever of 103°F is serious if it also causes a headache, rash, or a stiff neck.

Any fever that lasts more than two days is also a sign that something more serious is going on and you need to see a medical professional about it. 

Treating a fever

When you’re at home with a fever, the best thing you can do is drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. You can also lower your temperature with over-the-counter (OTC) medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. A cool bath can also lower your body temperature.

Important note: Never give a child 17 or younger aspirin to lower a fever. It may lead to Reye’s syndrome, a rare life-threatening illness that causes swelling in the brain and liver.

When you visit us for a fever, we ask detailed questions about symptoms and medical history and run tests to confirm or rule out a cause. We may test for the flu, COVID-19, a urinary tract infection, or strep throat.

For bacterial infections, we prescribe antibiotics. Most viral infections improve with time. However, we may prescribe antiviral medications for the flu or COVID-19 if you’re at risk of developing life-threatening symptoms. 

If you’re moderately or severely dehydrated, we may suggest intravenous fluids to rapidly rehydrate your body. 

We recommend that you continue to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take OTC medications at home to manage your fever and other symptoms.

Fevers are a protective mechanism that helps your body fight off whatever is making you ill. However, high fevers, fevers with other symptoms, and prolonged fevers are a concern and need a medical evaluation. 

If you or someone you love has a serious fever, call our office or schedule an urgent care appointment online right now.