What is Persistent Fever?

What is Persistent Fever?

Persistent fever is also known as chronic fever. Persistent fever usually lasts longer than 10 to 14 days. In some conditions, persistent fever might last more than 14 days. Fever can be caused by multiple factors. If you’re dealing with the mild fever there’s nothing you need to worry or fear about. Increasing body heat can be the response to bad bacteria or infections similar to flu or cold. Even though some rare cases cause mild fever that last longer than useful it can only be treated and diagnosed by a professional doctor.

What are The Fever Temperatures?

Everyone has a unique type of body and might not share a similar normal body temperature. But the normal body temperature of the body that falls between 97 to 99 degrees F. If you have 100.4 F or more than 100.4 F, it’s considered a fever (But, there's no widely agreed-upon medical statement). Even the type of thermometer you use might affect the temperature and show different temperatures. Some thermometers can be very accurate compared to any other thermometer.

Find Your Fever Temperature

Let’s take a look at how to consider fever by temperature and age,

Adults age older than 16

• 100.4 F (mouth temperature)
  

Children age older than 5

• 99 F (armpit temperature)
• 100 F (mouth temperature)
• 100.4 (ear temperature)
  

Children aged between 2 to 5 years

• 99 F (armpit temperature)
• 100.4 (forehead, rectal, or ear temperature)
  

Babies aged between 0 to 2 years

• 99 F (armpit temperature)
• 100.4 F (forehead, rectal, or ear temperature)
  

A mild fever is nothing that the temperature is slightly higher than the normal temperature, which is usually between 100.3 F. Mild fever is a signal of the body that reacts to something that triggers your immunity system.

Symptoms of Persistent Fever

Normally fever is a sign of sickness if you are infected. Symptoms of persistent fever are barely noticeable to mild fever. But, some people may experience different symptoms. Such as, 

1. Dehydration
2. Muscle pain
3. Feeling sick
4. Chills
5. Feel weak
6. Sweating 
7. Loss of appetite
8. coughing 
9. Sneezing
10. Stuffy or runny nose
11. Feeling warm when touched
12. Headache
13. Shivering 
    

Causes of Persistent Fever

Persistent fever could be a signal from your body saying “Hey! I’m fighting with an infection or some health issues.” It is important to take a general visit to your doctor when you find these symptoms. If you fail to give attention to your body sings, then it could cause you to experience,

1. Infections caused by virus-like COVID-19 or the common flu
2. Heat exhaustion 
3. Infected ear, skiing, bladder, throat, kidney, or lung 
4. Blood clots
5. Side effects of medicine 
6. Hyperthyroid (hormone disorder)
7. Illegal substance abuse
8. Urinary tract infections
9. Stress
10. Tuberculosis
11. Autoimmune diseases
12. Cancer 
    

When to see a Doctor?

It is important to schedule a doctor's appointment with a doctor if the fever continues for more than three to five days. If the fever can’t be rid of with any fever reduction medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Advil or Tylenol). Then you might need a comprehensive approach to treatment to find what causes you to have a persistent fever. Stop waiting for your body to cure itself and don’t do self-medication. Getting professional help from an expert doctor to find the cause, and to find the cure is highly advisable. 

Conclusion

In most cases, ignored persistent fever could lead to convulsions and even death. During this fever period your body loses its water through sweating. It results in reduced the natural volume of urine and blood. So, it’s very important to seek help at the very starting stage. Get your initial health advice from family practice / general practice for online consultation to get your doctor consultation from the comfort of staying at home. I hope we have answered all your queries about “What is persistent fever?” See you on the next interesting topic.