Do you know when a fever is too High? High-grade fevers, called hyperpyrexia, involve temperatures above 103 degrees and may be dangerous. Gauging a fever’s danger in yourself or your child is more complicated than just looking at a number, especially in children.
For most people, most of the time, a fever isn’t dangerous in terms of causing brain damage. This may go against what you’ve been taught to fear. It helps to know what causes fever, potential complications, and when to call your doctor or head to the emergency room. Knowing what’s different about fevers in kids versus adults is also important.
Why You Get Fevers
Usually, fevers are a good thing. They’re part of the natural way the body fights off infections. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus acts as a thermostat for your body.
It keeps body temperatures around 98.6 degrees (37 degrees Celsius) most of the time. When you get sick, it raises the temperature, making it hard for germs to multiply. That’s all good unless the fever gets so high that it could start harming you.
Causes
A lot of things can cause high fevers. Some include low-grade fevers that become high-grade, such as:
1. Viruses
2. Bacteria
3. Fungi
4. Toxins
5. Drugs
If the fever continues unchecked, or your body doesn’t respond to treatment, the fever may rise into the zone. Some medical conditions that don’t involve low fevers are associated with high-grade fevers. Some of these are:
1. Intracranial haemorrhage
2. Thyroid storm
3. Serotonin syndrome
4. Sepsis
5. Kawasaki syndrome
6. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
7. Heatstroke
8. Drug overdose
Symptoms and Complications
As your fever rises, it’s going to cause new symptoms.
Low-Grade Fever Symptoms Include
1. Chills
2. Sweats
3. Feeling hot
4. Headache
5. Eyes that are achy or tired
6. Thirst
7. Low appetite
Early High-Grade Fever
1. Extreme sweating
2. Dizziness and lightheadedness
3. Muscle cramps
4. Fatigue
5. Weakness
6. Nausea
Persistent or Worsening High-Grade Fever Can Also Cause
1. Contracted (small) pupils
2. Mild confusion
3. Cool, moist, pale skin
4. Upset stomach or vomiting
5. Decreased urine or inability to urinate
Longer-Lasting High-Grade Fever
1. Extreme confusion
2. Hallucinations
3. Loss of consciousness
4. Shallow, rapid breathing
5. Hot, dry, red skin
6. Weak, fast heartbeat
7. Dilated (large) pupils
8. Seizures
Fevers over 106.1 F (41.2 C) need medical attention to prevent serious, long-term consequences, including brain damage and death.
Brain Damage and Death
While high fevers, especially those that are prolonged, can lead to brain damage and death, this is extremely rare.
According to a 2016 study, heatstroke is the most deadly heat-related illness, killing 58% or more of the people it affects. Among survivors, most make full recoveries, but some may have long-term organ damage.
Organs that can be damaged by prolonged hyperpyrexia include:
1. Brain
2. Heart and cardiovascular system
3. Kidneys
4. Liver
5. Intestines
Proper treatment is the key to preventing severe complications of high-grade fevers.
Treatment: When is a Fever Too High
If someone has a fever but feels fine for the most part, treatment isn’t necessary. Because the fever’s job is to kill infectious agents, treating a low-grade fever can interfere with the body’s efforts.
A rule of thumb for children is that if they’re playing and have energy, there’s no immediate danger.
When fever-related symptoms make you feel lousy or the temperature has crept up near 103-104 F, an over-the-counter fever-reducing medication like Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help.
Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen) can help you feel better. The effects of these medications are only temporary, though. They work for 4 to eight hours and then wear off, meaning your fever may come back, and you will get to take more.
This doesn’t mean something is wrong or that it didn’t work. Children and teenagers should not be given aspirin for fever due to the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare and serious illness that causes brain and liver damage.
Rest and many liquids can also help your body weather the fever (and underlying illness). Other home remedies may help, but you need to know which ones are safe, effective, and potentially harmful.
Safe Fever Home Remedies
Treatment by Temperature
For most adults and older children, symptoms are a better indicator of when it’s a problem than the number on the thermometer. Still, it’s good to monitor how high the fever gets.
It pays to be more cautious and know the precise temperature when dealing with children under 3 years old, particularly babies. Fever in young children is often a sign that something serious is wrong, so it should not be ignored. Your paediatrician should have an on-call number so you can get advice at any time, or, in some cases, you may want to go straight to the emergency room.
Medical Care
If your fever is caused by an infection, it will not go away until the infection is gone or improves. Depending on the specific pathogen, this may require medical treatment.
If your fever doesn’t go away or is accompanied by other symptoms that suggest illness, you ought to see a doctor. If you rush to your doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER for fever treatment, you can expect medications and testing to figure out what’s causing the elevated temperature.
A Word From Very-Well
Adults are typically better able to determine when our symptoms are making us feel so bad that we need to seek medical treatment, but if you aren’t sure, evaluate what is going on.
Learn how to check your cold and flu symptoms, evaluate a fever, and know when to see a doctor for a fever.
If you are interested in checking out other best remote thermometers, be sure to check out the Remote Thermometer and these other articles.
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