Information on Fever

What you need to know

Fever has been recognised as a sign of illness since ancient times. In many cases a fever resolves itself and isn’t a cause for concern. Here’s a little more about fever, so you know the signs to look out for and the steps you can take:

What is a fever?

A fever is when your body temperature rises above normal (37.2°C) to help kill invading germs. This rise is usually caused by substances called pyrogens – released when you’ve got an infection – that act on the thermostat in your brain.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms that normally accompany a fever include:

Sweating
Shivering
Thirst
Hot skin
Fast breathing

How can you treat fever?

As fever is your body's mechanism to overcome invading germs, you only need to treat fever if you feel unwell. If you have a fever but still feel as if you can continue functioning without too much discomfort, there is no need to treat it. However, it's important to drink plenty of water to help replenish the fluid you lose through sweating. It's also crucial to get lots of rest if you need to. To help bring your temperature down, you could try taking a lukewarm bath or a pain-reliever containing ibuprofen - it's the active ingredient in Nurofen and it's proven to lower temperature.

When is a fever cause for concern?

Always see a doctor if:

The fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, confusion or irritability
The fever stays above 39.4ºC for longer than 2 hours
The fever lasts longer than 2 days
The fever goes above 40.6ºC

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters please contact your doctor.