When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

A fever has many possible causes. Most commonly, a fever is part of a virus that will go away on its own.

• Call the doctor if any of these conditions exists.
  
  
  • If the temperature is 104°F or greater
    
    
  • If the fever lasts more than 7 days
    
    
  • If the symptoms get worse

• Call the doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms occur with the fever.
  
  
  • Confusion or excessive sleepiness
    
    
  • Stiff neck
    
    
  • Severe headache
    
    
  • Sore throat
    
    
  • Rash
    
    
  • Chest pain
    
    
  • Trouble breathing
    
    
  • Repeated vomiting
    
    
  • Abdominal pain
    
    
  • Blood in stool
    
    
  • Pain with urination
    
    
  • Leg swelling
    
    
  • Red, hot, or swollen area of skin

• People with serious medical illnesses, such as cancer or HIV, may not show these warning signs. Mild symptoms should be discussed with the doctor before they can progress into a serious infection.

Certain illnesses that occur with a fever can be life threatening. Under these conditions, the person should go immediately to a hospital's emergency department.

• Meningitis is life threatening and highly contagious if caused by certain bacteria. If a person has the combination of a fever, severe headache, and stiff neck, he or she should be taken to the emergency department immediately.

• A person with difficulty breathing or chest pain and a fever should go immediately to the emergency department or call for emergency medical transport.

• If a person has a fever and blood in the stool, urine, or mucus, he or she should seek emergency medical help.

• A person who has a fever and is very agitated or confused with no obvious reason should be transported to the emergency department.

• Any person whose immune system is weakened (for example, people with cancer or AIDS) should call their doctor or go to the emergency department immediately if a fever develops. (See special medical conditions.)

• Hyperthermia is an emergency. Call for emergency medical transport if a person has a temperature greater than 104°F, is confused, or is not responding.