When to Go to the ER for a High Fever: Common Causes & Signs You Should Go to the ER
Fevers are actually one of the most common conditions out there, and are basically a higher-than-normal body temperature, with the baseline or normal body temperature being 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. In most cases fevers are not something to worry about and are actually a sign that your body is fighting off an infection, which is a good thing. The rise in the body temperature is the body’s natural mechanism to make it hard for germs and diseases organisms to live and multiply in the body. Fevers also, as per the subject matter experts over at frontlineer.com, vary in severity from low-grade fevers which range from 100-101 degrees Fahrenheit, intermediate fevers with a reading of 102 degrees Fahrenheit to high-grade fevers, or high fever, which range from 103-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit are dangerous temperatures and should be taken very seriously. Given that there are lots of diseases and conditions out there that have fever as part of their symptoms means that knowing when to go to the ER or not depends on other symptoms one is showing. However, cases of hyperpyrexia, or a fever that is equal to or above 106.7 degrees Fahrenheit should always lead to a visit to an ER as this is a medical emergency. This article will look to highlight some of the common causes of high fever as well as signs that one should go to the ER for each one of them.
The most common cause of high fever out there is due to viral infections and illnesses, with common cold and flu being the most common of them all. Some of the common symptoms that indicate high fever due to a viral illness include sore throat, runny nose, hoarseness, muscles aches, coughs with diarrhea, stomach aches and vomiting also being due to some viral illnesses. Since viral illnesses have no cure, if it is the common cold, then time and home remedies should do the trick and over time one should be able to go back to normal. However, signs that one needs to go to the ER, such as the excellent frontlineer.com, for high fever due to viral infections is if they can’t keep fluids down or presenting with high fever and have HIV/AIDS. High fever in elderly people with the influenza virus accompanied by severe headaches as well as muscle and joint pain should also lead to a visit to an ER as this viral infection can be quite serious in the elderly folk, and does even lead to death.
Another common cause of high fever is bacterial fever which is as a result of bacterial infections, which can occur in virtually any organ and organ system in the body. Unlike viral infections, bacterial infections can be treated with the use of antibiotics. Signs that indicate one should go to the ER vary depending on the organ system of the body that is infected. If you are experiencing high fever as well as severe headache, neck pain and stiffness, blurred vision, confusion, weakness and tiredness as well as irritability, then this is a sign you need to go to the ER as this is indicative of a bacterial infection in the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord and the brain, and could be a brain infection or meningitis which are life-threatening and should be taken very seriously as per the gurus over at frontlineer.com. High fever followed by chest pain and severe difficulties breathing among other symptoms are a sign of lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis which are also serious and should be a sign that you need to go to the ER. Other signs that you need to go to the ER for high fever due to a bacterial infection include severe abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea and could indicate serious gastrointestinal system problems such as appendicitis as well as liver and gallbladder infections among others. High fever accompanied by severe body aches, chills, confusion and weakness could also indicate sepsis which is when bacteria enters the blood stream and since this is a life-threatening condition, it is a sign one needs to go to the ER. Skin infections that are so severe that one is experiencing high fever as well as the wound on the skin appears visibly infected and is oozing strange fluid and pus is also a sign that you need to go to the ER.
High fever may also be caused by animal exposure, either through the fecal matter of domestic animals or after a bite or scratch by a rabid animal, domestic or otherwise. In such a situation, if you develop high fever as well as severe headache, chills as well as muscle and joint pain, then this is a sign that you need to go to the ER as soon as possible. If you experience high fever and you are undergoing cancer treatment or have recently undergone the same, then you should also head over to the ER as soon as possible, with frontlineer.com being one of the best options out there. Severe heatstroke is another cause of high fever, and one that should be taken seriously. If one has been exposed to very high temperatures and they are presenting with high fever and are not able to sweat, then this is a sign they should go to the ER as soon as they can.
There are many other causes of high fever and you can learn more about them by visiting frontlineer.com where you will also learn the signs that indicate you should go to the ER as far as they are concerned.
