Fever
Adults and Teens
Infants and Children
Fever is one of your body's way of responding to an infection or inflammation. A fever will usually run its course, but sometimes it may be a sign of a serious condition. An adult is considered to have a fever if the temperature is more than 37.2°C (first thing in the morning) to 37.5°C (in the late afternoon).
Can I treat this at home or do I need a doctor?
You need to see a doctor right away for a fever if:
- you have a fever higher than 40.5°C
- you have a fever that has lasted more than 3 days
- you have a fever that keeps recurring
- you have a stiff neck or a seizure
- you are confused, less responsive, or more sleepy than usual
- you have a chronic medical condition (e.g., receiving chemotherapy, medications to suppress your immune system, cystic fibrosis, HIV)
- you have traveled recently
- you have started a new medication recently
- you have pain when you urinate
- you have severe abdominal pain
- you have problems breathing or are wheezing
- your skin appears pale, blue or yellow, or the white of your eyes appear yellow
- you have any red, swollen area, rash, or bruise on your body
Home treatment
Non-medication treatments
Generally, a fever is not dangerous and will not harm you unless it is higher than
If you don't have any of the previously listed signs and symptoms, you can try the following tips:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Dress loosely and lightly in cotton clothing.
- Keep room temperature comfortably cool (around 21°C).
- Drink fluids frequently. This will replenish the fluids lost from sweating and help keep you cool.
Over-the-counter medications
If the fever is making you uncomfortable or if you have body aches with the fever, you can try these over-the-counter medications:
- acetaminophen*
- Do not use acetaminophen if you have a history of liver disease.
- ibuprofen*
- Do not use ibuprofen if you have a history of kidney disease or are in your third trimester of pregnancy.
What not to do
Here are some things that you shouldn't try and why:
- Don't put a lot of blankets or clothing on to "sweat out" the fever. This prevents body heat from escaping and will make you more uncomfortable.
- Don't use a bath, alcohol bath, or rub to lower the temperature. Your body will react to the sudden drop in temperature by shivering, which in the long run will raise your body temperature even more.
- Do not give acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to anyone less than 18 years old with a fever because of the risk of developing Reye's syndrome (a serious condition affecting the brain and liver).
* All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
What to expect
The fever should subside and you should feel better in 3 days.
You should see your doctor if:
- you are feeling worse
- fever has not subsided in 3 days
- any of the symptoms listed previously appear
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