Most everyone has had a fever at least once in their lives, if not dozens of times. Fevers are not necessarily a bad thing — when your body temperature goes up, it usually means your immune system is launching a counterattack to a health threat.
There are times, however, when your fever is signaling a need for a higher standard of care, which our two board-certified emergency care providers — Dr. Waiho Lum and Dr. Ping Wong — can provide. Here at Forest Urgent Care, we’re a community health center that’s designed for those illnesses and injuries that require care sooner rather than later, and fevers are often that health issue.
Here, we take a look at when it’s a smart idea to come see us for a fever.
One of the clearer indicators of a potentially problematic fever is when the temperature is high. We break out body temperature readings for adults according to the following:
So, in terms of numbers, we suggest that any adult with a high-grade fever should come see us, especially if it hits 103℉.
The numbers for kids are slightly different and we want you to bring babies in if they reach 100.4℉ and they’re younger than 3 months. For kids between the ages of 3 months and 2 years, we want to check out any fever that’s 102℉ or above.
While numbers are certainly good guides when it comes to seeking medical help for fevers, longevity of the fever is also an important factor. For example, let’s say that you or a loved one is running a fever of 102℉ for a couple days. If this fever doesn’t break by day 3 or 4, it might mean that your immune system is struggling and could use some outside help.
So, any fever that shows no signs of improving after several days, even if it’s a low-grade one, is one that you should have us check out.
Most fevers are accompanied by sweating, chills, fatigue, and body aches, so these symptoms aren’t necessarily cause for concern and should only last a few days.
If you develop any of the following symptoms alongside your fever, we urge you to come in:
Any of these symptoms on their own should be checked out and even more so if there’s a fever present, too.
About 3% of adults in the United States are immunocompromised, so any fever at all can be problematic as your immune system may not be strong enough to fight the virus or bacteria. So, if you or a loved one doesn't have a healthy immune system, please come to our practice whenever a fever develops.
Ultimately, you know yourself (and your loved ones) best, and we recommend that you let experience guide you. We do urge you to err on the side of caution with fevers because the one thing that they indisputably indicate is that your body is fighting something. And we’re here to help in that fight if your immune system is struggling.
For expert diagnosis and care of fevers, please contact us at our New York City office in Forest Hills, Queens, or visit our clinic during our hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
