When do you get a temperature

Fevers happen when your body temperature rises above normal, usually in response to an infection in the body. You might have a fever when you have an illness caused by a virus, like influenza, or a bacterial infection. This will give you a good indication of what temperature your body normally sits at. When you have a fever, your body temperature will be higher than normal. Body temperature is measured using a tool called a thermometer. These days, thermometers are digital devices, which show the temperature on a screen.

In the past, thermometers used a substance called mercury to measure temperature, but these thermometers are no longer used in hospitals or sold to the public. Follow the instructions on your thermometer to measure body temperature.

There are different places on the body where temperature can be measured, including the armpit, ear, under the tongue, or rectum. Your thermometer might be designed to measure temperature in one or more of these spots. To check for dehydration, a person can gently pinch the skin on the back of their hand, then let the skin go and watch it carefully.

If they are well hydrated, their skin will fall back into place very quickly. If the skin moves slowly, the person may be dehydrated. Checking in a mirror for any signs of flushed cheeks can help a person tell whether or not they have a fever.

Fevers dehydrate the body, which can prevent it from making as much urine as usual. This leads to more concentrated urine, which may be dark yellow or orange and possibly have an odor.

Learn more about urine colors in this article. There are a few different types of thermometer available. The following sections will describe these in more detail. Oral thermometers take the temperature in the mouth.

Most modern oral thermometers are digital. They usually beep when they complete a reading, which makes them very easy for most people to use. Oral thermometers are easier to use in adults, as they require a person to close their mouth and keep the thermometer in place for about 20 seconds to get an accurate reading. The thermometer should rest under the tongue and as close to the center of the mouth as possible.

Ear thermometers measure the temperature of the eardrum. Ear thermometers can give results within a few seconds. This makes them a good option when dealing with very young children, who may find it difficult to sit still for a prolonged period of time. To use an ear thermometer, hold the device up to the ear, with the sensor pointing inward, down the ear canal toward the eardrum.

Turn on the thermometer, and wait for it to signal that the reading is complete. Forehead thermometers are becoming more popular for home use. They tend to be accurate, but not as accurate as rectal thermometers. Forehead thermometers are a good option for use in children, as they do not require them to sit still for a long time. For most people, these symptoms will resolve on their own, and no medical attention is needed.

However, you should contact emergency services if you experience difficulty breathing, confusion, blue lips, or persistent chest pain. Oral thermometers are used to take a temperature in the mouth.

They usually have a digital readout, beep when the reading is complete, and may even alert you if the temperature is high enough to be considered a fever. Taking a temperature by mouth is a better option for adults than for children and babies. This can be difficult for children and babies to do.

Ear-based thermometers measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane. This is known as the eardrum. Although medical professionals often use them, you can use an ear-based thermometer at home too.

An ear-based thermometer uses a digital readout and delivers results in seconds. Babies older than 6 months, children, and adults can use one. A study found that this type of thermometer is as effective as a mercury-in-glass thermometer.

Because it uses infrared radiation, the thermometer can get a reading if the sensor is pointing toward the ear canal. You can get a rectal temperature by gently inserting a thermometer into your rectum. You can also purchase online a rectal thermometer with a small tip to use for a baby.

It can reduce the risk of injuring your baby. A study found that a rectal temperature reading is more accurate than an oral or ear-based one. Rectal thermometers are the best choice for young children, especially those under the age of 6 months. To take a temperature, you can choose from several types of thermometers, including oral, rectal, ear tympanic and forehead temporal artery thermometers. Oral and rectal thermometers generally provide the most accurate measurement of core body temperature.

Ear or forehead thermometers, although convenient, provide less accurate temperature measurements. When reporting a temperature to your or your child's doctor, give the reading and explain how the temperature was taken. Fevers by themselves may not be a cause for alarm — or a reason to call a doctor.

Yet there are some circumstances when you should seek medical advice for your baby, your child or yourself. An unexplained fever is greater cause for concern in infants and in children than in adults. Call your baby's doctor if your child is:. There's probably no cause for alarm if your child has a fever but is responsive — making eye contact with you and responding to your facial expressions and to your voice — and is drinking fluids and playing.

Ask your child's doctor for guidance in special circumstances, such as a child with immune system problems or with a pre-existing illness. Call your doctor if your temperature is F Seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs or symptoms accompanies a fever:.

Fever occurs when an area in your brain called the hypothalamus hi-poe-THAL-uh-muhs — also known as your body's "thermostat" — shifts the set point of your normal body temperature upward. When this happens, you may feel chilled and add layers of clothing or wrap up in a blanket, or you may shiver to generate more body heat, eventually resulting in an elevated body temperature. Normal body temperature varies throughout the day — it's lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening.

Although most people consider Sometimes the cause of a fever can't be identified. If you have a fever for more than three weeks and your doctor isn't able to find the cause after extensive evaluation, the diagnosis may be fever of unknown origin. Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years may experience fever-induced convulsions febrile seizures , which usually involve loss of consciousness and shaking of limbs on both sides of the body.

Although alarming for parents, the vast majority of febrile seizures cause no lasting effects.