Fever Summary A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. It is not an illness. It is part of your body’s defense against infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections do well at the body’s normal temperature (98.6 F). A slight fever can make it harder for them to survive. Fever also activates your body’s immune system. Infections cause most fevers. There can be many other causes, including Medicines Heat exhaustion Cancers Autoimmune diseases Treatment depends on the cause of your fever. Your health care provider may recommend using over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower a very high fever. Adults can also take aspirin, but children with fevers should not take aspirin. It is also important to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Children Acetaminophen and Children: Why Dosage Matters Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Febrile Seizures National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Kid’s Guide to Fever Nemours Foundation Reducing Fever in Children: Safe Use of Acetaminophen Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Fever National Institutes of Health Specifics Cryopyrin-Associated Autoinflammatory Syndromes (CAPS) – Juvenile American College of Rheumatology Familial Mediterranean Fever Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis Syndrome (PFAPA) American College of Rheumatology Array Familial Mediterranean fever Fever Fever American Academy of Family Physicians Fever and Taking Your Child’s Temperature Nemours Foundation When your baby or infant has a fever Start Here Fever Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Health Check Tools Fever (over 100.4 degrees F) DSHI Systems Diagnosis and Tests Fever in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians Treatments and Therapies Fever Treatment: Quick Guide to Treating a Fever Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Fever: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Thermometers: Understand the Options Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Genetics Genetics Home Reference: familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: familial Mediterranean fever National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: mevalonate kinase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Muckle-Wells syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome National Library of Medicine Related Issues Hot Flashes amd Night Sweats (PDQ) National Cancer Institute Women Hyperthermia and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Find an Expert National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Journal Articles Fever Encyclopedia Temperature measurement
