Fever is one of the most common problems people face, much more so in tropical countries like India,than in the West. Also called hyperthermia or pyrexia, fever manifests as a rise in the body temperature. It is also a very common condition accompanying most illnesses. It is important to note that fever is not an illness in itself. It is an indicator of underlying conditions such as an infection.

The hypothalamus, which is a part of our brain, is in charge of maintaining our body temperature. Our normal body temperature varies between 36-37.5°C. However, in case of an infection, the hypothalamus resets the body to a higher temperature, as a protective response to rid the body of the infecting bug.

• Flu or Influenza
• Bronchitis
• Strep throat
• Viral fevers like Dengue & Covid 19
• TB or Tuberculosis
• Urinary tract infections
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
• Ear infections
• Heat exhaustion

However, activities and emotions can also increase the body temperature. For instance anxiety, thrill or excitement, wearing too many clothes, certain food and/or medications, and bodily activity or exercise can raise your body’s temperature slightly. Some days during the menstrual cycle can give a feeling of fever. In these cases the fever is not something to worry about.

Mild fever that usually happens due to a viral infection or common cold can be treated at home. Today, even Covid related fever is also treated at home unless the infection is severe with other accompanying and alarming symptoms or in case of patients with serious underlying conditions like heart ailments or cancer.

1. Wet towel treatment : This cools the body down by drawing heat out of the body. To do this you need to take a soft cloth and fold it lengthwise. Next you will have to dip the cloth into room temperature water, squeeze it so that the excess water is removed from the towel. Once done, wrap the cold cloth around the neck, forehead, and around the ankles of the person having fever.
2. Eating healthy food : Vitamin C rich fruits like berries, watermelon, and oranges are known for fighting against infections. Spicy, fatty and oily food is not digested easily. While having fever it is better to avoid these foods as much as possible.
3. Drinking copious amounts of water and electrolytes : Fever leads to dehydration quickly. To avoid this and to prevent dehydration, drink lots of water and electrolytes like ORS.
4. Taking proper rest : Any type of bodily activity increases the temperature of human body. Therefore, taking adequate rest is also very important.
5. Medical Management : Antipyretics are usually given for fever. These medicines act directly upon the hypothalamus to relieve symptoms of fever. Most commonly prescribed antipyretics are Paracetamol, and these are generally safe to take, while you are waiting for a doctor’s consult.

Other than antipyretics, doctors also prescribe medicines which are antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal or anti-parasitic depending on the cause of your condition.

All of us get fever many times in our lives and we generally manage it without consulting doctors. While mild, short-term fever is normally an immune response that helps in combating illnesses, fever in its severe form which continues for more than 3-4 days, mostly indicates underlying medical conditions. This is when lab tests are necessary to assess the presence of underlying conditions which might be the cause behind your fever. You can book a GP consultation on DocGenie very easily and get an assessment, correct tests & treatment advice. Fever tests can zero down to the root cause of your symptoms so that the right treatment can be initiated and you are cured at the earliest. A fever test typically involves a blood test and urine test. If the fever continues for more than three days, dengue, malaria and typhoid tests are also performed. A laboratory resource person takes your blood sample, which is then sent to the lab for testing.

• Child below six months has fever
• Child has fever for more than three days
• Child or adult with conditions like cancer, AIDS, or heart disease etc., having fever.
• Child or adult having fever which is accompanied with other conditions including skin rash, stiffness in the neck, limpness, change in behaviour, vomiting and /or severe diarrhoea, difference in behaviour - should go to the hospital right away

If you or anyone in the family is facing any of the above conditions, consult an online GP doctor on DocGenie. Our doctors will get a detailed history and order the necessary tests needed for treatment.

Our platform is easy to use and gives you choice of experienced and quality doctors that have already been selected for you offering consults at a reasonable price, without the hassle of going to a hospital, parking, waiting. Our partnering labs are equipped with high-tech new-age machines to ensure error free results, reasonable costs, home collection, as well as a faster turnaround time.