When a person's body temperature goes higher than normal, it's considered a fever. When the temperature crosses 101F, take medicine.
Published Dec 13, 2022 | 7:23 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 14, 2022 | 12:38 PM
Generally, 98.6F has been considered normal body temperature, but normal human body temperature lies between 97F and 99F.(Creative Commons)
If you have a fever but are unsure about whether to take medicines and rest or visit a doctor, here are a few tips that could solve your confusion.
When a person’s body temperature goes higher than the normal temperature, it is considered a fever. Generally, 98.6F has been considered the normal body temperature but the normal human body temperature is between 97F and 99F.
It’s usually lower in the morning and increases during the day. It peaks in the late afternoon or evening, sometimes by as much as 1 or 2 degrees.
A part of the brain called the hypothalamus controls your body temperature. In response to an infection, illness, or some other cause, the hypothalamus may reset the body to a higher temperature. So when you catch a fever, it is a sign of something that is going on in your body.
Dr Prabhakar Rao, General Physician in Hyderabad, said that a person is suffering from fever when he feels weak or has body aches and his temperature has crossed 101F.
Dr Prabhakar said that when a person above 18 is suffering from a fever, he should first have sufficient rest. “If you are going to push your body, it may increase the temperature and will take time to heal,” he said.
A person, who is suffering from a fever for more than two-three hours and his body temperature is above 101F, the person should take fever medicine, such as paracetamol. Adults can take 500mg tablets once every four to six hours.
Dr Prabhakar said that even after medication if your temperature doesn’t go down, the first thing a person should do is to consult a doctor.
If a person has additional symptoms such as headache, body ache, chills, shivering, and dehydration, the person should immediately visit a doctor.
Also, if even after a day’s medication, the fever is persistent, a visit to the doctor is a must.
Children should always be given medication prescribed by doctors.
