A fever is a temporary rise in body temperature, usually caused by an infection. For most children and adults, a fever may be uncomfortable but it usually isnt a cause for concern. However, for infants, even a low fever may mean there's a serious infection. Body temperatures vary slightly from person to person and at different times of day. The average temperature has traditionally been defined as 98.6 F (37 C) . A temperature taken using a mouth thermometer (oral temperature) that's 100 F (37.8 C) or higher is generally considered to be a fever. Depending on what's causing a fever, other fever signs and symptoms may include:
- Sweating
- Chills and shivering
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Dehydration
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
Fevers generally go away within a few days. A number of over-the-counter medications lower a fever, but you don't necessarily need to treat a fever if it's not causing discomfort. However, if you have a fever over 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C), you should seek medical attention.
