A fever is a body temperature of 38C or above in children, or above 37.5C in adults. Most commonly, it is caused by an infection, and it is not normally anything to be too concerned about. However, a severe fever may be a sign of something more serious that needs urgent medical attention.
In most cases, treating the underlying issue will usually cause the fever symptoms to disappear after a couple of days. You can check for a high temperature at home using a thermometer, which you can buy from many high street stores or pharmacies.
Signs and symptoms of a fever in adults
The symptoms of a fever can be slightly different for each person. However, common things to look out for in adults include:
A very high fever (above 40C) can sometimes result in convulsions or confusion. You should seek medical advice as soon as possible if you, or someone you are caring for, has a temperature this high or is showing these severe symptoms.
What causes a fever in adults?
There are many reasons your body temperature may rise. Some of the most common things that cause high fever in adults include:
When you have a high temperature, you do not usually need to treat the fever itself, but the underlying problem, such as an infection, needs to be treated instead. As we mentioned earlier, usually it is nothing to worry about and should pass in a couple of days. If it doesn’t, seek medical advice.
It is important to keep hydrated, particularly if it is a child or baby that is ill, and you can also try:
Applying a cool damp cloth to the forehead
Ensuring you are not wearing too many layers, causing you to overheat
Using a fan to keep cool
Taking Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
If your child has a temperature, make sure they are not wearing too many layers but also be careful that they do not become cold.
How can Push Doctor help?
At Push Doctor, you can see a GP online, on any device, from home, work or even on the go. Our doctors can discuss your symptoms during a video consultation, listen to your concerns and suggest the right treatment to get you back up on your feet as quickly as possible.
They can also consult with your child. Find out more about that here.
You can see a GP about your fever at a time that suits you 7 days a week and can offer you the advice, diagnosis and treatment you may need. Book an appointment now.
NHS - trained and registered doctors
Every one of our doctors is registered with the General Medical Council and can be found on the NHS National Performers List, so you know you are only ever receiving the best possible care and advice.
They are experienced in treating a wide range of conditions, and can help with almost everything your regular GP could in a physical surgery. You can meet some of our doctors here.
Push Doctor also has an in-house Medical team, who support our doctors day in, day out, and enable our doctors to do what they do best. They are also responsible for the ongoing training and development of doctors on our platform.
They are the foremost authority in our industry, assessing health providers' ability to provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care – be they offline or online doctors.
Push Doctor is registered with the CQC under the name 'Push Dr Limited', with the registration number 1-5345986073.
Our most recent inspection took place in May 2019, concluding that the service we provide is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led – gaining a 'Good' rating overall. You can read the report in full on our CQC profile.
Same day prescriptions
Our NHS-trained GPs can, if appropriate, issue prescriptions online following a consultation. Once your consultation is complete, our team will search for the closest pharmacy to you which has your medication available. We'll then send you a text when your prescription is ready to collect.
To collect your medication, simply hear to the nominated pharmacy to collect and pay for your prescription. You will need to take a valid form of ID to show the pharmacist when you arrive. This process is almost always done within the same day of your consultation.
Instant fit (sick) notes
Our GPs can send a sick/fit note directly to you if necessary following an online consultation. These can be sent directly by email or first-class post.
Fit notes include recommendations about how and when you'll be able to return to work or education, or whether you're able to return to work with amended duties (e.g no heavy lifting or reduced hours). They can also contain detailed advice about managing your medical issue in the workplace.
