Information on Feverishness

What you need to know

Fever has been recognised as a sign of illness since ancient times. In many cases a fever resolves itself and isn’t a cause for concern. Here’s a little more about fever, so you know the signs to look out for and the steps you can take:

What is a fever?

A fever is when your body temperature rises above normal (37.2°C) to help kill invading germs. This rise is usually caused by substances called pyrogens – released when you’ve got an infection – that act on the thermostat in your brain.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms that normally accompany a fever include:

Sweating
Shivering
Headache
Thirst
Hot skin
Fast breathing

How can you treat fever?

It’s important to drink plenty of water to help replenish the fluid you lose through sweating. It’s also crucial to get lots of rest. To help bring your temperature down, you could try taking a lukewarm bath or a painkiller containing ibuprofen - it’s the active ingredient in Nurofen and it’s proven to lower temperature.

When is a fever cause for concern?

Always see a doctor if:

The fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, confusion or irritability
A child is under the age of 1 year and has a fever
The fever stays above 103ºC for longer than 2 hours
The fever lasts longer than 2 days
The fever goes above 105ºC

For more information, please contact NHS Direct.

Nurofen is not responsible for content on external websites.

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters please contact your doctor.