Fevers: When to Seek Treatment - Legacy ER

A fever is a sign that the body is busy working to fight off infection and illness by temporarily raising the body’s core temperature. While fevers are a sign of illness in the body, having one is common in adults, and over-the-counter medications may help reduce its longevity. However, fever in children and infants can be a sign of a serious problem and will likely require medical attention.

The myth that the average adult body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit can be misleading and lead to varying levels of reactions to fever. Adult body temperatures fluctuate between 97.5 and 98.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Children and infants have a more extensive range of body temperatures, the average fluctuating between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many healthcare professionals consider a fever temperature to start at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for all three age ranges.

Symptoms of Fever in Adults and When to Seek Help

Waking up in a sweat or with chills from a fever can be alarming and result from an infection, disease, or reaction to a medication. Although you can treat a common fever at home by taking medication and increasing fluid intake, some symptoms require immediate medical attention. These symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Inability to walk
• Trouble breathing and chest pain
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Severe headache
• Hives or rash
• Swelling
• The fever lasting more than three days

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical treatment to reduce the chances of causing severe damage to the body. For example, if a fever rises high enough, it can cause damage to the brain, kidney, liver or heart. In rare cases, fevers can even cause death if they are not reduced.

Fever and Treatment in Children and Infants

Fevers in childhood are much more severe than fevers in adolescence or adulthood and could be a sign of a serious medical issue. If your infant is less than 2 months old and has a fever, they will require immediate attention from a doctor to prevent causing severe health complications. Some fever symptoms that signal an emergency in an infant include:

• Lethargic or unresponsive
• Problems breathing or eating
• Is cranky, fussy or inconsolable
• Dehydration signs (dry diapers, dry mouth, no tears or sunken spot on head)
• Seizures

At-home treatments may be beneficial for older children and infants. For example, try bathing children in lukewarm water, dressing them in light layers, monitoring fluid intake and asking your doctor if medication is appropriate.

However, they may need medical care to prevent a fever from rising or prolonging in some cases. Therefore, it’s imperative to monitor fever symptoms and consistently check their temperature to avoid a true medical emergency.

If you feel their condition is a true emergency, call 911. If they are experiencing extreme pain or fever symptoms, seek medical attention by visiting Legacy ER & Urgent Care at any time, 24-hours a day, year-round.

Legacy ER & Urgent Care is here to meet your medical care needs by providing affordable pricing and quality care. As part of Intuitive Health’s innovative hybrid model ER and urgent care system, patients are only billed for the level of care they receive by professional and highly trained medical staff. With a total of six centered located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, emergent and non-emergent care are accessible and transparent with a focus on superb customer service.

Legacy ER & Urgent Care has six convenient locations in the DFW area:

• Allen – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 1310 W. Exchange Pkwy Allen, TX 75013, and may be reached at 972-526-5819.
• Coppell – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 330 S Denton Tap Rd Coppell, TX 75019 and may be reached at 469-702-9917.
• Frisco East – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 16151 Eldorado Pkwy Frisco, TX 75035 and may be reached at 972-526-7009.
• Frisco West – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 9205 Legacy Dr. Frisco, TX 75033, and may be reached at 972-526-7020.
• McKinney – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 2810 Hardin Blvd McKinney, TX 75072 and may be reached at 972-573-6688.
• North Richland Hills – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 8950 N. Tarrant Pkwy North Richland Hills, TX 76182, and may be reached at 817-663-1247