 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- What is fever?
- Symptoms of fever
- Causes of fever
- Prevention of fever
- Risk factors for fever
- Complications of fever
- When to see a doctor about fever
- Diagnosis of fever
- Conventional treatment of fever
- Alternative/complementary treatment of fever
- Living with fever
- Caring for someone with fever
When to see a doctor about fever
Babies and infants are the most vulnerable to the effects of high fever as their body temperature can rise very quickly during an infection.
There are some general guidelines on fever for babies, infants and children:
- Babies that are less than six weeks and have any type of fever may develop an uncontrolled fever (due to their inability to reduce fever) and require immediate medical attention
- Infants under 3 months who have a fever over 38° C (100.4°F) should be taken to a doctor immediately as they may be quite ill and require immediate medical attention
- Children that are convulsing for over five minutes, due to a fever may need urgent medical attention - take them to the doctor immediately (or call an ambulance - 000)
- Always err on the side of caution with children who have a fever over 40°C (104°F) and take them to the doctor immediately (or call an ambulance - 000)
Advertisement
There are some general guidelines on fever for adults:
- Adults who have a fever over 40°C (104°F) need to seek immediate medical attention
- Adults with a low grade fever associated with a chronic medical condition (such as rheumatoid arthritis, hay fever, bronchitis, sinusitis) need to seek medical attention as this indicates there is an infection which needs to be diagnosed and treated
- Adults with persistent fever not associated with any chronic medical condition need to seek the advice of a medical practitioner to determine the cause of the fever
Advertisement
Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
< 6: complications 8: diagnosis > Last reviewed: 8 September 2007 || Last updated: 17 February 2009
Related Articles
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
