Fever can be a problematic symptom leading to the rage of other factors, especially in adults. The factors could include the cause, duration and other symptoms associated as well. Fever itself is an innate response by the immune system to infections and ailments. It’s important to know when you need to consult an online doctor for medical advice and when to visit the clinic in person.

Symptoms of Fever in Adults

Let’s understand the fever symptoms before consulting an online doctor. The symptoms of fever include:

• Loss of appetite: Experiencing a decreased desire to eat or a complete lack of interest in food.
• Sweating: Excessive perspiration that may occur regardless of temperature or physical activity.
• Headache: Persistent or recurring pain in any region of the head.
• Aching muscles and joints: Generalized discomfort or pain in muscles and joints throughout the body.
• Chills and shivering: Sensation of cold accompanied by shivering, often without an external cause.
• Fatigue: An overwhelming sense of tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest.
• Weakness: Feeling physically drained and lacking strength in muscles.
• Irritability: Increased sensitivity and a lower threshold for frustration or annoyance.
• Dehydration: Insufficient water intake leads to dry mouth, thirst, and reduced urine output.
• Dizziness: A sensation of lightheadedness or unsteadiness, often accompanied by a feeling of spinning.
• Chattering teeth: Uncontrolled teeth clattering due to cold or other factors.
• Flushed face: Reddening of the face, often linked to increased blood flow.
• Nausea or vomiting: A queasy feeling in the stomach with an urge to vomit, sometimes resulting in actual vomiting.
• Rash: A noticeable change in skin texture or colour, often itchy or uncomfortable.
  

Causes of Fever in Adults

Several factors might be the cause of fever in adults and according to those factors, your online doctor will suggest you best medical advice.

• Some bacterial infections such as UTI, pneumonia, ear infections, or tonsillitis.
• Viral infections can also be caused by fever and these include, colds, flu, COVID-19, or other upper respiratory tract infections.
• These are a few fungal infections and parasitic infections and their severity could also be potential causes. Whole symptoms need to be discussed with your online doctor thoroughly.
• Some of the inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
• If you are living in areas with high temperatures then Heat-related conditions such as Heat exhaustion or heat stroke, usually in hot weather or after strenuous activity.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism
• Malaria is a tropical disease that can cause recurring fever.
• Some of the medications include side effects like fever Stomach-related issues including food poisoning can cause a rise in body temperature

How Do You Know a Fever is Serious in Adults?

In adults, fever is considered dangerous if it reaches 39.4°C or higher for over three days. It includes symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, disorientation, headache, neck stiffness or frequent nausea and vomiting.

Other warning signs include fever in individuals with weakened immune systems, chronic medical issues, or if the fever climbs suddenly. If an individual has recently travelled to a location with infectious illnesses or they have been exposed to someone else with serious sickness, a fever may suggest a potential severity of infection. This is when the patient needs to consult an online doctor or visit the hospital.

When to visit a doctor?

At first, when you have mild symptoms, it’s recommended to talk about your symptoms with an online doctor through telehealth and tell them about your symptoms. Discuss the symptoms with an Australian registered online doctor within 15 minutes without leaving your home. Book your telehealth appointment now.

If the fever in adults lasts more than three days continuously, including other symptoms like issues in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, disorientation, and continuous vomiting. You need to note that a higher than 39°C body temperature is a cause of concern.

When to go to hospital with fever?

You need to seek immediate medical care if you have the following symptoms:
⦁ A higher temperature than 39°C
⦁ Prolonged duration of fever than three days.
⦁ Severe breathing issues or chest pain severe headache, stiff neck, and frequent vomiting.
⦁ Some other underlying health issues may include compromised immune due to chronic medical conditions.
⦁ If you have recently travelled to any area with the viral disease spread then it’s recommended not to ignore the fever symptoms and immediately talk to an online doctor or visit the hospital as per the severity of symptoms.

How High is a Safe Fever For Adults?

There are different body temperatures, safe fever temperature for adults might vary slightly based on the patient and technique of measurement. Usually:
Oral temperature is commonly defined as a temperature of 38°C or higher when measured orally.
If measuring a rectal temperature of 38.3°C or greater when measured rectally is cause of concern.
Point to be noted: The above are general guidelines and tiny changes may be there depending on the condition of the individuals. Often fevers are the sign of the body struggling from an infection or disease and it is accompanied by other symptoms as well.

Is Consulting Online Doctor a Good Option For Treatment of Fever in Adults?

Online doctor consultation via telehealth can be a useful option for treating fever in adults. Online healthcare professionals can evaluate the symptoms, and provide guidance for managing the fever at home, they also suggest the medication and supervise the patient’s condition remotely.

This way online consultations are best for facilitating the urgent escalation in case of concerning symptoms, ensuring prompt access to proper medical care.
Whereas, for the extreme conditions as mentioned above where fever is accompanied by other severe symptoms and is prolonged for a longer time, proper physical diagnosis and screenings are essential. If you are looking for a medical certificate as per the AMA Guidelines or your leave from work or school due to fever then telehealth is a very accessible and convenient way of getting it.

In conclusion, we can say online doctors can assess and treat the initial stages of fever by offering flexible and accessible medical advice while ensuring the safety of patients and the healthcare community. Furthermore, fever should never be taken lightly as it is usually a response to some infection and it should be made sure to seek medical advice in prolonged and high body temperatures as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the patient and proper treatment on time.