Fever
Get convenient online consultation for fever with DocOnTrip during your travels – for assessment and guidance towards appropriate care.
About Fever
Fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness or infection. While it's a common symptom and a sign that your body is fighting something off, a fever can cause discomfort and be a sign of various underlying conditions. Effective management is important, especially when you are away from home and familiar healthcare. DocOnTrip offers convenient online consultations for assessing your fever and guiding you towards appropriate care, ensuring your well-being during your travels.
Symptoms
- Elevated body temperature (typically above 37.5°C or 99.5°F orally, but definitions vary)
- Chills and shivering, sometimes accompanied by sweating
- Headache
- Muscle aches and general body pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability or changes in behavior (especially in children)
Causes & Risk Factors
- Infections (viral like colds/flu, bacterial like strep throat or UTIs, fungal, parasitic).
- Inflammatory conditions (e.g., autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis).
- Medication side effects (drug-induced fever).
- Vaccinations (common side effect).
- Heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
- Teething in infants.
- Traveling to areas with higher risk of infectious diseases.
Diagnosis via Teleconsultation
Our experienced doctors can assess your fever along with other associated symptoms, your medical history, and recent travel to help determine the likely cause. They will advise on the next steps, including whether local diagnostic testing (e.g., blood tests, urine tests) or an in-person evaluation is recommended, and if specific treatments are needed.
Treatment Options
- Rest and adequate hydration (drinking plenty of fluids).
- Over-the-counter fever reducers such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen.
- Cool compresses or lukewarm baths for comfort (avoiding cold baths which can induce shivering).
- Treating the underlying cause of the fever (e.g., antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for flu).
- Monitoring for worsening symptoms or development of new concerns.
When to Seek Emergency Care
- Fever above 40°C (104°F) in adults.
- Any fever in infants under 3 months of age requires immediate medical attention.
- Fever accompanied by a stiff neck, severe headache, or sudden confusion.
- Fever with a new, unexplained rash.
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain.
- Seizures.
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea leading to signs of dehydration.
- Fever that does not respond to medication or worsens after a few days.
Why Choose DocOnTrip?
- Fast and convenient access to expert medical advice from any location.
- Guidance on managing fever symptoms and helping identify its potential cause.
- Digital prescriptions for fever reducers or antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is suspected).
- Avoid unnecessary visits to local emergency rooms or clinics for initial assessment.
FAQ
Can fever be treated online? Yes, initial assessment, guidance on home management, and appropriate prescriptions for fever can be provided through an online consultation.
When should I worry about a fever? You should worry if the fever is very high, occurs in a very young infant, or is accompanied by severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, stiff neck, confusion, or a rash.
How do I take my temperature accurately? You can take your temperature orally, rectally (most accurate for infants), axillary (under the arm), or using a temporal artery thermometer on the forehead. Follow the device instructions for accuracy.