Before knowing low-grade fever, let’s understand what madness is. A person’s average temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). But not the same for every person. Generally, a normal range is 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature is above the normal range, we called it fever. The fevered person’s temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or above it. Do people have to know what is low-grade fever?
Usually, body temperature fluctuates for multiple conditions. It depends on when you take your temperature or how you take it. A person’s temperature slightly elevates in the evening than in the morning. On the other hand, the weather also differs from orally or rectally. For a menstruating person, the temperature tends higher in their menstrual cycle. So, we even can say that this is our average body temperature.
People might think a fever is terrible for their health but honestly, saying it is not bad at all. Sometimes a person got a rage because his body is fighting against infections or illness. And his body is working to make him healthy.
Low-Grade Fever
It means when the temperature is mildly elevated from the average body temperature and lasts for more than 24 hours. When a person has a low-grade fever, a body temperature remains between 99 degrees Fahrenheit and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, other experts define low-grade fever temperature from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
That is not about any concerns. One might suffer from low-grade fever because of a cold or flu virus. Otherwise, the body might work for immunizing.
Causes of Low-Grade Fever
Though we have already mentioned some reasons for a low-grade fever, more causes might be responsible for that. A respiratory infection could be the cause of rapid low-grade fever. Cold, flu, coughing, sneezing or sore throat are the reasons for a respiratory infection.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is another reason for a low-grade fever. It can cause for both children and adults. It occurs when the bacteria increase anywhere in the urinary tract. The UTI infection also includes the bladder, kidney, ureters, and urethra. For urinary tract infections, the person might feel pain and burning while urinating. Sometimes the urine is dark and bloody for the disorder.
Teething (Infants)
Usually, teething occurs between 4 and 7 months of an infant’s age. So, this can cause that.
Also, the infant feels mild irritability and cry for the reason. It is not concerned until the temperature got higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of causing teething instead, there might be other issues that should not neglect.
Medications
Sometimes changing medication can cause a low-grade fever. This fever is called drug fever. The fever occurs about 7 to 10 days later after a person starts the new medicines. This drug-associated with it includes
- phenytoin,
- procainamide,
- carbamazepine,
- methyldopa,
- quinidine,
- and beta-lactam antibiotics, e.g.,
- cephalosporins and
If you consult with your doctor for a low-grade fever, and if he thinks it is caused by new medication, he may adjust your new medication dosage or recommend another drug. And the fever will disappear after you stop the medication.
Stress
For chronic and emotional stress, a low-grade fever can occur. As this fever is related to a person’s emotions, this fever is called psychogenic fever. This fever is widespread in young women. Besides, this fever occurs with those people who are mostly exacerbated by stress. This stress relates to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. This psychogenic fever therapy is anti-anxiety drugs.
Respiratory infections
Sometimes, cold and flu are the cause of low-grade fever. It may last for a few days. It is not a big issue until the fever and cold last for more than seven days. Other symptoms you might notice include chills such as sneezing, fatigue, lost appetite, sore throat, stuffy nose, and cough.
Other Respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis are also the cause of low-grade fever. It again might stay for a week with a cough.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is another disease that is caused by a low-grade fever. This contagious occurs by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. The rage comes especially at night time, and therefore night sweat happens.
Tuberculosis disease remains silent in the human body with no symptoms for years. It becomes active when the body’s immune system becomes week. The active TB symptoms include:
- Feel pain while coughing
- Exhausting
- Bloody sputum for coughing
- Low-grade fever
- Night sweats
If someone has these symptoms with low-grade fever, he or she might have TB. To confirm whether it is true or not, please consult with your doctor. The doctor can use a skin test called purified protein derivative (PPD). By doing this test, he can determine if the person can infect with the TB bacteria. To cure TB, the person has to take several medications for six to nine months.
Thyroid issues
Subacute thyroiditis is another reason for low-grade fever in some cases. It happens because of thyroid gland inflammation. Moreover, it occurs for radiation, medications, infection, autoimmune, or trauma.
Thyroiditis other symptoms include muscle pain, sensitivity to hurt near the thyroid gland, fatigue, and neck pain that often radiates up to the ear.
Autoimmune diseases
A low-grade fever causes autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). People who have MS also complained of fatigue include low-grade fever.
RA could be the reason for joint inflammation. The typical symptom of RA is low-grade fever.
If a person diagnoses RA and MS, then it needs diagnostic tools and multiple lab tests. Also, the diagnosis can take time. For diagnosing RA and MS, the doctor will first determine the bacterial or viral infection that is the potential cause of low-grade fever.
Suppose the fever is related to MS or RA. In that case, the doctor will recommend drinking fluids, removing an extra layer of clothing, or taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) until the fever is gone.
Cancer
Specific cancer such as lymphomas and leukaemias can cause a low-grade fever. But the rage is nonspecific symptoms of cancer. So, if someone has a low-grade fever, then it doesn’t usually mean cancer. But if you consult with your doctor, it might alert him to run some particular test.
There are some common symptoms of lymphomas and leukaemias cancer such as bone and joint pain, headaches, enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, and feel fatigued for a long time.
A doctor may recommend radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatment depending on cancer type and stage.
Vaccines
Many vaccines’ common side effect is low-grade fever. After taking vaccines, fever signifies that the body is building an immune system against viruses and infection. About 10% of children got a fever after receiving routine vaccines, and 70% of children gained a fever when receiving multiple vaccines.
Signs and Symptoms of Low-Grade Fever
A person can identify low-grade fever with some symptoms. But there is another easy way from that they can recognize whether they have it or not. The person should take his temperature periodically because our body temperature fluctuates for several reasons. In addition to this, you can identify that fever from some symptoms.
- Headache
- Chills
- Warm skin
- Muscle aches
- Sweating
- Glassy eyes
- Diarrhoea
- Joint aches
- Skin redness
- Nausea
- Breath shortness
- Urination burning
Though these symptoms are not very concerning, some other symptoms might indicate a life-threatening condition. Let’s know about those severe symptoms.
Severe symptoms of Low-Grade fever that might indicate a life-threatening condition
Some low-grade fever symptoms may be life-threatening. If you have found those symptoms in you or someone you know, then immediately consult with a doctor.
- If someone experiences palpitations or chest tightness, pain, and pressure, they should immediately seek medical care.
- the low-grade fevered person’s mental status or behaviour changes suddenly, then he or she should go to a doctor. The person might feel confusion, lethargy, hallucination, and delirium. Those shouldn’t neglect.
- Sometimes the heart rate rapidly abnormal.
- Respiratory or breathing problem is another severe symptom. In a breathing problem, the person might experience difficulty in breathing or breathing shortness.
- Another severe problem is rectal bleeding, vomiting, blood, and bloody stool.
- Sometimes the person feels seizure and severe pain.
How to treat a Low-Grade Fever
The recommendation differs for fever. In low-grade fever, there are few things that a person can do to feel better.
To reduce the low-grade fever, you can wet a washcloth and damp cloth on your forehead. Besides, while you are taking a rest, you can use the damp cloth back of your neck. If you are shivering, make sure you are pile on the blanket and wearing cosy socks. A low-grade fevered person should drink a lot of fluids and also take rest.
You might sweat due to low-grade fever. In this case, you should stay hydrated. Moreover, you should take rest so that your body can focus on healing and fighting infection.
Sometimes low-grade fever becomes worse. In this case, the person should consult with a doctor. If the temperature increases 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more than it, the person should consult with a doctor.
When to see a doctor
A low-grade fever may not be a reason to consult with a doctor until there are some other issues. But it differs for children, infants, and adults.
Infants
But for infants, even higher than average temperature means a serious issue. If the infant has diarrhoea, a cold, or cough for more than three days, then you should consult with a doctor. Besides these issues, the baby might seem unusually irritable or uncomfortable.
Children
A low-grade fever is not concerned for your child until he or she makes eye contact with you and drink fluid. But if the fever lasts for more than three days, you should consult with your paediatrician. Moreover, if your child vomits repeatedly or severs diarrhoea, then consult with your paediatrician as well.
Adults
For an adult, low-grade fever is nothing about a concern. But if the fever lasts more than three days, then it should not be neglected. Besides, if the fever goes 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more than it, you should not see how many days it lasts; instead, you should run to your doctor.
An outlook of Low-Grade Fever
Low-grade or mild fevers are nothing of concern. A person might have it because of his body’s immune system. But in the case of infants’ low-grade fever shouldn’t be neglected.
However, you should consult with a doctor when you have had a fever for more than three days. If you have some symptoms such as chest pain, rash, vomiting, stiff neck, or throat swelling, you should go for medical care.
It is hard to know when you should call a doctor for your baby or young child in case of mild fever. If your baby is less than three months, then you should seek medical care. On the other hand, if your baby is older, you should not be worried much until the fever stays for more than three days or the temperature runs above 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius).