What counts as a fever in adults?

Did you ever wake up feeling like a medieval knight with hotter than normal body temperature, and thought to yourself “did I forget to turn the radiator off again?” Before you start panicking about having some exotic tropical disease, let us take a step back and explore when exactly we are considered ‘hot stuff’ according to medical experts (cue Marvin Gaye).

Getting Technical – The Temperature Range

The average human body temperature is generally accepted at 98.6 Fahrenheit or 37 degree Celsius (not that it matters because nobody uses Fahrenheit anyway). However, the range of what’s normal can vary depending on various factors such as where the thermometer was inserted (wait what?) mouth versus rectum make quite a difference – but we will touch on this topic later.

According to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), fever is defined when one has an oral or ear temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) OR a rectal or temporal artery temperature above 100.9°F (38.3°C) OR an armpit/axillary area temperature above 99°F (37.2°C) (tell me more!) .

It’s important to note – your temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day; being slightly elevated in late morning compared with evening hours so best practice is measuring baseline temperatures over time consistently using appropriate techniques (temperature taking ninja) .

How Can You Get Rid of A Mild Fever?

Feeling feverish and have nothing better planned today except Netflix’s newest show? Your priority should be resting, hydrating properly and noticing any accompanying signs such as headache, muscle pain or chills which may suggest infection (pssst! Be careful around others whilst experiencing these symptoms), In most mild cases no medical treatment is needed since our immune systems typically combat viruses effectively without medication.. though baby-friendly antipyretics(tylenol) or some tlc might do no harm to your “feel good” rating.

When should I freak out and call the Doctor?

The famous Roman philosopher Seneca once wrote “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” Wise words, albeit he was probably referencing Stoic philosophy rather than stubbornly disregarding medical advice – which please don’t unless you practice an ancient form of physical resistance called Werewolf therapy. But jokes aside, there are certain scenarios when seeking medical attention promptly could be considered smart for your overall wellbeing. (cue Jaws music)

Here’s a simple list of signs or symptoms indicating potential causes requiring immediate consultation with a primary health care provider:

Fever accompanied by:

  • Severe headache/sensitivity to light
  • Difficulty breathing/chest pain
  • Persistent vomiting/diarrhea
  • Excessive drowsiness/confusion/fainting spells/convulsions (inability to understand what’s happening around)

You may need additional diagnostic tests such as blood work, throat culture or X-rays depending on the underlying cause.. but if all comes back negative(at least in this context), feel free to watch entire seasons of Breaking Bad bonus material without any guilt!

How Accurate Are Different Temperature Measuring Methods?

Like any other measuring system that humans create (we’re looking at you ‘imperial units’), temperature detectors can have inaccuracies arising from different measurement techniques e.g oral vs armpit vs ear measurements notoriously vary… let us dive into each method in more detail:

Oral Temperature

Done by placing a mercury glass thermometer or digital probe into the mouth under the tongue and closing lips around the instrument like how Homer Simpson might a beer can. The temperature is then taken after about 3 minutes of uninterrupted time (feel free to hum “Staying Alive” by Bee Gees in your throat to pass time) .

A normal oral temperature should be just below 98.6°F (37°C) but this may fluctuate throughout day, so taking temperatures at different times consistently over days can give you a better understanding of what’s considered ‘normal’.

However… people who’ve eaten or drank anything recently, smokers or those suffering from respiratory illnesses may have higher readings when using oral measurements which could explain why they’re sometimes less accurate for detecting fevers.

Rectal Temperature

This technique involves inserting the thermometer probe carefully up to 1 inch inside our little private area.. and otherwise known as quite an invasive approach(non-invasive methods involve wrist monitoring etc.). Medical teams will often use this method on infants due to its accuracy compared with other techniques.

According to medical professionals, rectal measurement provides consistent data that accurately reflects core body temperature – however it admittedly has some disadvantages such as being uncomfortable(painful), unhygienic(not germaphobe friendly) and restricted access(but hey! we won’t judge). So realistically it’s best used in extreme cases where precision is needed; for example when dealing with critically ill patients.

What Are Some Other Factors That Affect Body Temperature?

Before calling household exterminators because your heating bill looks suspiciously high, there are plenty of external factors including;

  • Physical activity
  • Drinking hot/cold liquids
  • Posture eg standing versus sitting/lying down position
  • Hormonal changes e.g menstruation
  • Wearing too many layers(or none).

## What Do I Do To Avoid Getting Fevers?

There is no guaranteed method to avoid fever but there are many different things you can do to minimize its impact on daily life (sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health).

  • Get enough sleep – grab expensive comfortable sheets, switch off that phone and hibernate with satisfaction
  • Wash hands frequently & practice good hygiene habits like covering mouth when sneezing/coughing.
  • Drink plenty of water – dehydration might trigger heightened temperatures
  • Nourish your body with healthy food

Conclusion

Fever right now may hurt, causing discomfort and impede everyday activities such as watching multi season drama (how rude) , but it usually acts an immune response alerting us to potential health issues. As a general rule being overly stressed about hitting high scores on gaming sessions or insufficient “cuddle-time” cannot cause fevers (although it could end up bringing them about).

Now that we have reviewed this topic together, let’s change into thermometers and use our new found ninja skills to detect even the slightest temperature deviations whether through coughs/sweats.. but please one last time confirm the location before taking rectal readings… at least for everybody’s comfort wink wink.

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