When you or someone in your family spikes a fever, the first thing that may come to mind is wondering whether they are contagious. Illnesses can spread like wildfire during the fall and winter seasons, so it is important to be wary about keeping your distance from anyone experiencing illness symptoms. Fevers can indicate a multitude of different conditions. However, understanding the underlying cause of the fever is the only way to determine whether you are at risk for catching the same illness.
If you have a fever, AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst can help. Our walk-in urgent care clinic provides same-day illness symptom diagnosis and treatment to patients in Lyndhurst, NJ, and the surrounding areas. We never require that you schedule an appointment in advance - simply walk into the clinic!
What Causes a Fever?
We all know the unpleasant symptoms of a fever. Body aches, chills, fatigue, cold sweats - fevers are very uncomfortable. Fevers are caused by your immune system responding to an infection and raising your body temperature to kill off any pathogens that might be making you sick. Fevers can be dangerous because heating your body up can disrupt organ function. Although fevers are unpleasant, they typically resolve within 24 hours. Fevers are a symptom of an illness, so they cannot spread from person to person. However, the underlying illness that is causing the fever may be contagious.
How To Diagnose the Cause of a Fever
Fevers are a symptom of an illness. They can occur due to a variety of different illnesses, including common viral infections like the flu and bacterial infections like strep throat. In order to identify the cause of your fever and determine whether you may be contagious, you should consider any other symptoms you may be experiencing such as a productive cough, sore throat, or congestion. These all could suggest various underlying illnesses.
Although fevers themselves are not contagious, the illnesses that cause them can be. It is important to keep your distance from anyone who has a fever to prevent the spread of illnesses. However, the most effective way to diagnose a fever is to seek medical care. A medical professional will be able to evaluate your symptoms and perform diagnostic testing in order to accurately identify the cause of your symptoms and treat it effectively.
Does a Fever Require Medical Treatment?
In most cases, fevers are very short-lived and typically last 12 to 24 hours. Although fevers are your body's way of fighting off infections, there are a few situations where a fever may require medical treatment. If your fever does not resolve within a day, you should seek medical care. Having a raised body temperature for too long can cause damage to your organs. Similarly, if your fever is over 104℉, you should seek medical care to prevent organ damage. Individuals who are immunocompromised including the elderly, young children, and anyone with underlying health conditions should also seek medical treatment for a fever.
Visit AFC Lyndhurst for Same-Day Illness Symptom Treatment
Fevers themselves are a symptom of an illness. While the fever is not contagious, the illness causing the fever can be. If you have a fever, AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst can help. Our urgent care clinic has a lab on-site allowing our medical providers to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms and treat them effectively. We’re open 7 days a week and accept walk-in patients. We offer affordable care and accept most medical insurance plans. Walk into the clinic today!
