A fever is when your body temperature is higher than your normal average temp. Most providers say a fever is either 100.0 F (37.8 C) or 100.4 F (38 C). When you have a fever, it’s your body’s normal response to fighting an infection or illness. Fevers usually aren’t a serious concern. They typically go away when the infection passes.
A fever is when your body temperature rises higher than normal. A fever itself isn’t an illness. Rather, it’s a symptom of a wide range of health conditions. When your body temperature rises a few degrees above normal, it can be a sign that your immune system has been activated, often to fight an infection. It can also be a side effect of some medications and vaccinations.
Common knowledge states that a “normal” body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). But your baseline body temperature may vary by a degree or more. It also fluctuates. It’s typically lower in the morning and higher in the evening. It’s higher during certain points of your menstrual cycle and when you’re exercising.
Infants and young children normally have slightly higher body temperatures than older children and adults. So infants and younger children have slightly higher fever temperatures.
There are no strict guidelines for what temperature is a fever, because body temperature varies by person, time of day and method of measurement. But healthcare providers most often say a fever temperature is 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) when measured orally (by mouth).
Rectal and ear thermometers typically measure temperatures at about 1.0 degrees F (0.6 degrees C) higher than oral thermometers. Skin thermometers (such as forehead thermometers) typically measure temperatures at about 1.0 degrees F (0.6 degrees C) lower than oral thermometers.
A low-grade fever means a body temperature slightly above normal. This type of fever can be a sign your immune system has been mildly activated. There’s no standard low-grade fever range. But many healthcare providers consider a body temperature between 99.5 degrees F (37.5 degrees C) and 100.3 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) to be a low-grade fever.
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In addition to an elevated temperature, you may experience the following symptoms:
Additional fever symptoms in babies and children may include:
A fever has many causes and can be a symptom of almost any illness. Common conditions that cause fever include:
You may also develop a fever due to:
Allergies can cause cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes, but they typically don’t cause fever. Despite its name, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis) doesn’t cause fever.
You can take your temperature in several different parts of your body. The most common site is your mouth (oral temperature). Other sites include your ear (tympanic membrane), forehead (temporal artery) and armpit (axillary). The most accurate site is the rectum, and the least accurate site is the armpit.
The best way to measure your temperature is with a digital thermometer. Glass thermometers contain mercury and providers no longer recommend them.
If your fever is mild — less than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) — you usually don’t need treatment with medication. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. Taking a lukewarm bath — about 98 degrees F (36.7 degrees C) — may also help bring your body’s temperature down. Keep an eye on signs of dehydration and other worsening symptoms.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable and your temperature is higher than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C), you can try to break the fever. The most common way to get rid of a fever is to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.
Don’t give aspirin to children under the age of 17. Aspirin in children may cause Reye’s syndrome, a sometimes fatal illness.
Yes, you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to try to reduce a fever.
The cause of the fever determines how long it’ll last. Typically, if an infection is the cause of your fever, it should pass within three to four days. Call your healthcare provider if the fever lingers longer than that or comes along with breathing changes.
You can prevent some fevers by avoiding the illnesses and infections that cause them. Sometimes, children develop fevers after receiving vaccinations. You can prevent these types of fevers by giving your child acetaminophen just before or after the vaccination. But you can’t prevent most fevers. They’re typically a sign that your body is doing what it’s supposed to do.
In adults, fevers less than 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) typically aren’t dangerous and aren’t a cause for concern. If your fever rises above that level, make a call to your healthcare provider for treatment.
In children, call your child’s healthcare provider if:
If you have a fever along with any of the following symptoms, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. It may be a sign of a serious or life-threatening illness.
If your baby has a fever and is under 3 months of age, take them to the ER right away. Your baby’s immune system hasn’t developed fully yet, and they could have a serious infection.
If your child has a fever along with any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room:
Untreated fevers above 105.8 degrees F (41 degrees C) can be dangerous. If your body temperature reaches this level, your organs will begin to malfunction and will eventually fail.
Even moderate fevers can be dangerous for adults with lung or heart disorders because fever causes your breathing rate and heart rate to increase. Fever can also worsen the mental state of people with dementia.
A recurrent fever is a fever that keeps coming back multiple times over a period of time. Providers call these fevers episodic because they come and go. The fever lasts for a few days and then goes away for a stretch of time. Your child is healthy and acts normally between fevers. Recurrent fevers affect young children under the age of 5 most often. They’re one of the main symptoms of a collection of conditions called periodic fever syndromes.
Some children have a side effect of fevers called febrile seizures. This happens in 2% to 4% of children under the age of 5. Some seizures cause jerking movements, or it may look like your child has passed out. When this happens, put your child on their side and don’t put anything in their mouth. Call 911 if the seizure lasts for more than five minutes and/or your child’s lips turn blue.
If the seizure lasts less than five minutes, notify their healthcare provider and get medical attention right away.
Fever dreams are vivid, bizarre or unpleasant dreams you may experience when your body temperature rises higher than normal. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of fever dreams. But some scientists think fevers cause your brain to “overheat,” affecting your cognitive processing, which results in dreams stranger than your typical dreams. Fevers may also interrupt your REM sleep cycle, which can lead to unusual dreams.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
While a fever can be uncomfortable, it’s typically a sign that your body is working properly and your immune system is kicking into action. You don’t need to treat low fevers, but you can take over-the-counter pain relievers until they pass. If you or your child has a higher temperature or your fever hasn’t passed within a few days, you should make a call to your healthcare provider. While infections most often cause fevers, there could be other underlying conditions you’ll want to get checked out.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/31/2023.
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Homa ni hali ambayo joto la mwili ni juu kuliko wastani wa kawaida. Wataalamu wengi wanasema kwamba homa ni ya 37.8 C au 38.4 C. Unapokuwa na homa, ni majibu ya kawaida ya mwili wako kupambana na maambukizo au magonjwa. Kwa kawaida homa si tatizo kubwa. Kwa kawaida hupita wakati maambukizo yanapopita. Homa ni hali ambayo hutokea wakati joto la mwili linapopanda zaidi ya kawaida. Homa yenyewe si ugonjwa. Badala yake, ni dalili ya hali mbalimbali za afya. Joto la mwili linapoongezeka zaidi ya digrii chache, inaweza kuwa ishara kwamba mfumo wako wa kinga umeanza kufanya kazi, mara nyingi ili kupambana na maambukizo. Pia inaweza kuwa athari ya upande wa dawa fulani na chanjo. Watu wengi wanajua kwamba joto la kawaida la mwili ni digrii 37. Lakini joto la mwili wako la msingi linaweza kutofautiana kwa digrii moja au zaidi. Pia hubadilika-badilika. Ni kawaida chini asubuhi na juu jioni. Ni ya juu zaidi wakati fulani wa mzunguko wako wa hedhi na unapofanya mazoezi. Kwa kawaida, watoto wachanga na watoto wadogo huwa na halijoto ya juu kidogo kuliko watoto wakubwa na watu wazima. Watoto wachanga na watoto wadogo wana joto la juu zaidi. Hakuna miongozo ya kawaida ya kiwango cha joto cha mwili, kwa sababu joto la mwili hutofautiana kulingana na mtu, wakati wa siku na njia ya kupima. Wataalamu wa afya wanasema kuwa joto la mwili ni 38.4 ° C (9.4 ° F) wakati wa kupima kwa mdomo. Kwa kawaida thermometers za mkojo na sikio hupima joto kwa karibu digrii 1.0 F (0.6 C) zaidi kuliko thermometers za mdomo. Thermometers ya ngozi (kama vile thermometers ya paji la uso) kwa kawaida hupima joto kwa karibu digrii 1.0 F (0.6 ° C) chini ya thermometers ya mdomo. Homa ya kiwango cha chini humaanisha joto la mwili lililo juu kidogo ya kawaida. Aina hii ya homa inaweza kuwa ishara kwamba mfumo wako wa kinga umeamsha kidogo. Hakuna kiwango cha kawaida cha homa ya kiwango cha chini. Wataalamu wengi wa afya wanadhani kuwa joto la mwili kati ya 99.5 ° F (37.5 ° C) na 100.3 ° F (38.3 ° C) ni joto la kiwango cha chini. Kliniki ya Cleveland ni kituo cha matibabu cha kitaaluma kisicho cha faida. Matangazo ya biashara kwenye tovuti yetu husaidia kuunga mkono utume wetu. Hatupendekezi bidhaa au huduma zisizo za Kliniki ya Cleveland. Kwa kuongezea, dalili za joto la juu zinaweza kuwa dalili za ugonjwa wa joto, na dalili za joto la juu kwa watoto na watoto wadogo zinaweza kuwa dalili za ugonjwa wa joto, na zinaweza kuwa dalili za ugonjwa wowote. Hali za kawaida zinazosababisha homa ni pamoja na: Unaweza pia kupata homa kutokana na: Hisia za mzio zinaweza kusababisha dalili kama baridi kama vile kupiga chafya, pua inayotiririka na macho ya maji, lakini kwa kawaida hazisababishi homa. Licha ya jina lake, homa ya nyasi (ambayo pia huitwa rhinitis ya mzio) haisababishi homa. Unaweza kupima joto katika sehemu mbalimbali za mwili wako. Sehemu ya kawaida ni mdomo wako (joto la mdomo). Maeneo mengine yanatia ndani sikio lako (membrane ya tympanic), paji la uso (arteri ya muda) na kiwiko (axillary). Mahali sahihi zaidi ni kwenye tumbo la uzazi, na mahali pasipofaa zaidi ni kwenye paja la mkono. Njia bora ya kupima joto lako ni kutumia kipima-joto cha dijiti. Vipimo vya joto vya kioo vina zebaki na watoaji hawashauri tena. Ikiwa homa yako ni ya wastani <unk> chini ya 101 ° F (38.3 ° C) <unk> kwa kawaida huhitaji matibabu ya dawa. Hakikisha unakunywa maji mengi na kupumzika. Kuoga kwa maji ya joto - karibu nyuzi 38 F (36.7 C) - kwaweza pia kusaidia kupunguza halijoto ya mwili wako. Angalia dalili za upungufu wa maji mwilini na dalili nyingine zinazozidi kuwa mbaya. Ikiwa unahisi usio na furaha na joto lako ni juu ya digrii 101 F (38.3 C), unaweza kujaribu kuvunja homa. Njia ya kawaida ya kupunguza homa ni kutumia dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa za dawa. Aspirini haipaswi kutumiwa kwa watoto chini ya umri wa miaka 17. Aspirini kwa watoto yaweza kusababisha Reye's syndrome, ugonjwa ambao nyakati nyingine huua. Unaweza kutumia dawa za kuzuia uvimbe zisizo za steroidi kama vile ibuprofen ili kupunguza homa. Kisababishi cha homa huamua muda gani itaendelea. Kwa kawaida, ikiwa ugonjwa ni kisababishi cha homa yako, inapaswa kupita ndani ya siku tatu hadi nne. Piga simu kwa daktari wako ikiwa homa inabaki kwa muda mrefu au ikiwa kuna mabadiliko ya kupumua. Unaweza kuzuia homa fulani kwa kuepuka magonjwa na maambukizo yanayoyasababisha. Nyakati nyingine, watoto huanza kuwa na homa baada ya kupatiwa chanjo. Unaweza kuzuia aina hizi za homa kwa kumpa mtoto wako acetaminophen kabla au baada ya chanjo. Lakini huwezi kuzuia homa nyingi. Kwa kawaida ni ishara kwamba mwili wako unafanya kile unachopaswa kufanya. Kwa watu wazima, homa chini ya 103.4 ° C kwa kawaida si hatari na sio sababu ya wasiwasi. Ikiwa homa yako inazidi kiwango hicho, piga simu kwa mtoa huduma yako ya afya kwa matibabu. Kwa watoto, piga simu kwa mtoa huduma ya afya ya mtoto wako ikiwa una homa pamoja na dalili yoyote zifuatazo, nenda kwenye chumba chako cha dharura au piga simu 911. Huenda ikawa ishara ya ugonjwa mbaya au wenye kuhatarisha uhai. Ikiwa mtoto wako ana homa na ana umri wa chini ya miezi mitatu, mtie kwenye chumba cha wagonjwa wa haraka. Mfumo wa kinga wa mtoto wako haujaendelea kabisa, na huenda akawa na maambukizo mabaya. Ikiwa mtoto wako ana homa na dalili yoyote yafuatayo, piga simu 911 au nenda kwenye chumba cha dharura kilicho karibu: Homa isiyotibiwa juu ya 105.8 ° F (41 ° C) inaweza kuwa hatari. Ikiwa joto la mwili wako linafikia kiwango hiki, viungo vyako vitaanza kufanya kazi vibaya na hatimaye vitashindwa. Hata homa ya wastani inaweza kuwa hatari kwa watu wazima wenye matatizo ya mapafu au moyo kwa sababu homa husababisha kiwango cha kupumua na kiwango cha moyo kuongezeka. Homa yaweza pia kuharibu hali ya akili ya watu wenye ugonjwa wa akili. Homa ya mara kwa mara ni homa ambayo huendelea kurudi mara nyingi kwa kipindi fulani cha wakati. Watunzaji huita homa hizo kuwa za vipindi kwa sababu huja na kuondoka. Homa hiyo hudumu kwa siku chache kisha hupungua kwa muda fulani. Mtoto wako ana afya nzuri na ana tabia ya kawaida kati ya mafua. Homa ya mara kwa mara huathiri watoto wadogo chini ya umri wa miaka mitano mara nyingi. Wao ni moja ya dalili kuu ya mkusanyiko wa hali inayoitwa syndromes ya homa ya mara kwa mara. Watoto fulani huwa na athari ya upande ya homa iitwayo mshtuko wa homa. Hii hutokea kwa asilimia 2 hadi 4 ya watoto walio chini ya umri wa miaka 5. Mshtuko wa akili unaweza kusababisha kutikisika kwa mtoto wako, au huenda ikaonekana kama mtoto wako amekufa. Hilo litakapotokea, mwwekee mtoto wako kando na usimweke chochote kinywani. Piga simu kwa 911 ikiwa mshtuko wa akili unaendelea kwa zaidi ya dakika tano na au midomo ya mtoto wako inakuwa ya bluu. Ikiwa mshtuko wa moyo unadumu kwa muda wa dakika tano, mwambie daktari wako na upate matibabu mara moja. Ndoto za homa ni ndoto za ajabu, zisizo za kawaida, au zisizopendeza ambazo unaweza kupata wakati joto la mwili wako linapopanda zaidi ya kawaida. Watafiti hawajui kisababishi halisi cha ndoto zenye homa. Lakini wanasayansi fulani wanafikiri kwamba homa husababisha ubongo wako "kupasha joto kupita kiasi", ikiathiri utaratibu wako wa utambuzi, jambo linalotokeza ndoto zisizo za kawaida kuliko ndoto zako za kawaida. Homa yaweza pia kuvuruga mzunguko wako wa usingizi wa REM, ambayo yaweza kusababisha ndoto zisizo za kawaida. Wakati homa inaweza kuwa isiyo ya kawaida, ni ishara kwamba mwili wako unafanya kazi vizuri na mfumo wako wa kinga unaanza kufanya kazi. Huna haja ya kutibu homa ya chini, lakini unaweza kuchukua dawa za kupunguza maumivu zisizopatikana kwa dawa mpaka zipite. Ikiwa wewe au mtoto wako una homa ya juu au homa yako haijapita ndani ya siku chache, unapaswa kupiga simu kwa mtoa huduma yako ya afya. Ingawa maambukizo mara nyingi husababisha homa, kunaweza kuwa na hali nyingine za msingi ambazo utahitaji kuchunguzwa. Utafiti wa mwisho wa kliniki ya Cleveland ulifanyika tarehe 31 Mei, 2023. Jifunze zaidi kuhusu mchakato wetu wa uhariri.