You will more than likely find yourself waking up in a pool of sweat after a terrible dream, but during cold and flu season, you might wake up dripping in sweat due to a fever.

A fever is a temporary increase in your body’s temperature.  While a fever will make you feel uncomfortable, it is a normal sign that your body is fighting to fight off an infection.

A person’s average body temperature is normally around 98.6 and anything above 100 degrees F can be considered a high fever.

Your body temperature can increase for a number of reasons outside of facing an infection such as being in an area of high humidity and heat, wearing heavy clothing or layers, strong emotions such as anger, or women being on their menstrual cycle.  But infections and viruses such as the flu, bronchitis, sinus infections, or ear infections can significantly increase your body temperature, thus giving you a higher fever.

Depending upon what’s causing the fever, additional signs and symptoms may include:

• Sweating
• Chills and shivers
• Headache
• Muscle aces
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea

Some methods to try to reduce your fever include:

• Placing a cool, damp cloth on your forehead
• Take a lukewarm bath
• Stay hydrated by increasing water intake
• Use a fan at a low setting to circulate air floor

When to Seek Medical Attention

No matter your child’s age, you should seek medical attention if their fever is higher than 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are over 17 years of age and your fever has lasted longer than 48 hours, you should seek medical attention to ensure you do not have a virus or bacterial infection.

If you have been dealing with a high fever and want to get your symptoms checked out, be sure to visit AFC Urgent Care Malden for treatment.  For more information about the services we provide, please call to speak with one of our medical professionals at 781-322-7300.