A high temperature can sometimes mean you have a few too many layers on, but it can also be a sign that the body is fighting infection.
As we plough our way through December and January, colds, Covid and other illnesses will be circulating.
What is a high temperature for an adult and child?
A high temperature – also called a fever – is typically considered to be 38C (100.4F) or over.
According to the NHS, the standard body temperature in adults is 37C (98.6F).
However this amount can fluctuate slightly depending on the person’s age, the time of day and the current activity.
It is generally accepted that 36.1C (97F) to 37.2C (99F) is a normal range for body temperature.
But the NHS says if you feel hot or shivery, you may have a high temperature even if a thermometer says your temperature is below 38C (100.4F).
Other signs include sweating or warm, red skin, and your chest or back feeling hotter than usual.
For babies and children, the normal body temperature is 36.4C (97.5F), but again, this can vary slightly.
A high temperature in a child or baby is also 38C (100.4F) or over.
What causes a high temperature?
A fever is the body’s response to a number of illnesses, including flu, the coronavirus, tonsilitis, UTIs, a stomach bug, heat exhaustion, or a vaccine, which mimicks a virus.
Cases of RSV (a common cold) and norovirus are also higher than this time of year.
All three cause a high temperature.
When should I see a doctor?
A high temperature in itself doesn’t mean you need to see a doctor, and it usually subsides over three or four days.
Make sure you get plenty of fluids (and look out for signs of dehydration), rest at home and eat some food if you have the appetite. The same goes for children.
However, there are some indications things may be a bit more serious.
In adults, you should see a GP if you have severe thirst, have dark or very little urine, you are light-headed or feel weak, you have severe muscle cramps or you have recently been abroad.
Children should be seen by a doctor if there are other symptoms such as a rash.
Warning signs also include that they won’t eat, they are not themselves or are dehyrated (dry nappies or sunken eyes), or paracetemol does not help.
Babies under three months should always be seen by a doctor, as well as those under six months with a temperature of 39C (102.2F) or higher.
