Fever is a common ailment that can be caused by a variety of factors. Dr. Naval Parikh specializes in treating fevers and knows how to help patients recover quickly from them with the right treatment plan for their needs.
In this article, we will discuss fever causes, fever symptoms, fever prevention and fever treatment.
What is Fever?
A fever is a common and usually temporary illness that causes a person’s temperature to rise. Fever can be caused by infection, certain medications or other illnesses such as the flu. It happens when your body produces more internal heat than it loses so its temperature rises above the normal range of 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (36-37 Celsius).
Fever Causes
There are many fever causes; some of them include:
- Cold and flu viruses, which can cause fever to develop quickly.
- Bacterial infection in the lungs (pneumonia), kidneys (pyelonephritis) or urinary tract (cystitis).
- Sepsis is due to a bacterial infection that spreads into your bloodstream.
- Allergic reaction to a drug you’re taking (drug fever).
- Heatstroke or heat exhaustion in the summer is caused by extreme temperatures and high humidity that lead to a rise in your body temperature.
Fever Symptoms
Fever symptoms vary depending on how high fever is but some fever symptoms include:
- Feeling very hot when others feel fine.
- Feeling feverish and cold.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Aching muscles or joints.
- Flushed, red skin.
- Dry or sticky mouth and tongue.
- Decreased urination.
How Can a Fever be Prevented?
Fever is the body’s way of fighting off infection. Although fever causes discomfort, it helps destroy or fight foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses that cause infections. In most cases, the fever will go away by itself without any treatment needed but there are things you can do to help relieve your fever symptoms like:
- Taking medications to reduce fever (aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Getting lots of rest.
- Using fever-reducing medication if prescribed by your doctor.
- Taking a lukewarm bath.
- Using a fever thermometer to check your temperature every few hours.
When should You See a Doctor?
It is important to contact your healthcare provider if a fever lasts more than three days or the fever returns after it has been gone for several days, especially in babies and young children who can’t tell you how they feel.
In some cases, fever can be a sign of serious illness that requires immediate medical attention such as:
- Fever in infants younger than three months old or fever accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and cold hands and feet.
- Severe headache with fever.
- High fever (103 degrees Fahrenheit/56 Celsius or higher).
- Fever accompanied by a rash, especially if fever is 101 degrees Fahrenheit/44 Celsius or higher and the person has a sore throat, headache, upset stomach, diarrhea or pain when swallowing.
Fever Treatment By Dr. Naval Parikh
Dr. Naval Parikh helps patients to recover quickly from fever and to treat a fever with his years of experience in treating fever. He uses a multi-pronged approach that includes:
- Antibiotics (oral or intravenous)for bacterial infections.
- Anti-viral medications for viral infections like the flu.
- Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, reduce fever and relieve aches, pains or any other discomfort.
- Antipyretics for fever reduction without causing stomach upset.
- Sedatives if a patient is very restless from fever symptoms like fever tremors (shaking).
Dr. Naval Parikh received his medical degree from the esteemed Medical University of South Carolina located in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dr. Parikh specializes in fever and offers fever treatment with the use of fever-reducing medications like fever reducers (antipyretics) that can reduce fever without causing stomach upset or pain relievers that help reduce fever symptoms such as aches and pains.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Naval Parikh Clinic:
Address: 1 West Sample Road, Suite 201. Deerfield Beach, Florida. 33064.
Phone: (954) 782-3170
