# Fever: causes, when it is dangerous and which doctor to see > A temperature of 38 °C or above is most often caused by an infection, but not always. Here is what counts as a high temperature, how it differs in adults and children, and when to see a doctor. ## When to see a doctor urgently - Temperature of 38 °C or above in a baby under 3 months - Temperature of 39 °C or above in a baby of 3 to 6 months - Fever with a stiff neck, severe headache or dislike of bright light - A rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it - Difficulty breathing or chest pain - Confusion, unusual sleepiness or a seizure - Temperature of 39.4 °C or above, or not improving after a few days at home - Repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration If you have any of these signs, call 112 or go to emergency care. ## Which doctor to see - General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/general-practitioner - Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/pediatrician ## What counts as a high temperature A body temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or above is usually considered a fever. A fever is not a disease in itself but a response of the immune system, most often to an infection. How you feel does not always match the number: you can feel hot, shivery and sweaty at 37.5 °C and cope fairly well at 38.5 °C. So look at the thermometer, but also at what comes with the fever and how long it lasts. The most common causes are viral and bacterial infections: [influenza](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/influenza), colds, tonsillitis, ear and urinary infections. Childhood infections with fever include [measles](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/measles) and [chickenpox](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/varicella). Less often the cause is an inflammatory or autoimmune condition, overheating, or a reaction to a medicine or vaccine. Rarer but serious infections such as [typhoid fever](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/typhoid), [meningococcal disease](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/meningococcus) and [pneumococcal disease](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/pneumococcus) often start with a sudden deterioration. ## Fever in adults In an adult with a cold or flu, a fever usually lasts a few days up to a week and gradually settles. If you are treating it at home and it is not improving, or it is getting worse, see a doctor. Treat a fever that comes with a severe headache, difficulty breathing, confusion, a stiff neck or a rash as urgent rather than waiting. If a fever lasts more than three days, or keeps returning in waves with no clear reason, book a visit with a general practitioner. ## Fever in a child Fever is very common in children, and in most cases a virus is behind it. For small babies the thresholds are stricter: in an infant under 3 months a temperature of 38 °C or above needs medical help the same day, and in a baby of 3 to 6 months, 39 °C or above. In older children, watch behaviour: a child who drinks, plays and responds is usually less worrying than one who is limp, refuses fluids or is unusually sleepy. If a child's fever lasts longer than five days, see a pediatrician. Do not give aspirin to children under 16. ## A low fever that lasts for weeks A slightly raised temperature (37.2 to 37.5 °C) that lingers for weeks is most often a leftover of an infection, but sometimes it needs checking, for example to rule out [tuberculosis](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/tuberculosis), hidden inflammation or a thyroid problem. It is more worrying if it comes with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, a cough lasting more than three weeks or enlarged glands (see [swollen lymph nodes](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/swollen-lymph-nodes)). If fever comes with a throat or chest problem, see also [sore throat](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/sore-throat) and [cough](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/cough). ## What you can do before seeing a doctor - Rest and drink fluids in small, regular amounts to avoid dehydration; water is best. - Dress for comfort: do not wrap up tightly or strip completely, and skip cold-water or alcohol rubs. - If the fever is making you very uncomfortable, a fever-reducing medicine is chosen by age and weight; for children under two, ask a pediatrician or pharmacist about the dose. - Measure your temperature regularly and write it down: it helps the doctor see the pattern. - Stay home from work or school until the fever settles, so you do not pass on the infection. ## How a doctor looks for the cause The doctor will ask when the fever started, how it has changed, whether you have been near sick people, travelled, been bitten or started a new medicine, and will examine the throat, ears, lymph nodes and skin and listen to the lungs. Depending on the findings, they may order a blood count, a urine test, inflammation markers, a chest X-ray, a throat swab or tests for specific infections. Antibiotics do not help a viral infection, so they are used only when there are signs of a bacterial cause. ## Doctors - Sofiia Volchkova — Neurologist, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/sofia-volckova (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/sofia-volckova.md) - Giorgi Basheleishvili — Pediatrician, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili.md) - Nino Vacheishvili — Gastroenterologist, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/nino-vaceisvili (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/nino-vaceisvili.md) - Anna Biriukova — General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/anna-biriukova (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/anna-biriukova.md) - Ekaterine shonia — Dental Surgeon, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/ekaterine-sonia (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/ekaterine-sonia.md) - Salome Akhvlediani — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani.md) - Khatuna Loladze — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze.md) - Margarita Zakharevich — Pediatrician, Hematologist: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic.md) - Dmitry Semin — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin.md) ## Frequently asked questions ### What temperature is a fever? Usually 38 °C or above. You can feel hot and shivery at a lower reading, so judge by how you feel and what other symptoms come with it, not only by the number. ### When should I see a doctor if my child has a fever? At once if the baby is under 3 months with 38 °C or above, or 3 to 6 months with 39 °C or above, and with floppiness, a rash or difficulty breathing at any age. Otherwise if the fever lasts more than five days or your child seems to be getting worse. ### Do I need to bring a fever down? Not necessarily: a fever helps the body fight infection. A fever-reducing medicine is for when the fever is hard to bear; the dose is chosen by age and weight. ### Why is my temperature higher in the evening? Body temperature naturally changes through the day and with an infection it is often higher in the evening. If a slight fever lasts more than a week, see a general practitioner to rule out hidden inflammation. ## Possible Causes - Measles: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/measles - Pneumococcal disease: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/pneumococcus - Influenza: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/influenza - Chickenpox: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/varicella - Meningococcal disease: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/meningococcus - Typhoid fever: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/typhoid --- Canonical: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/fever Country: Georgia (GE), the country in the South Caucasus Updated: 2026-10-04T21:13:51+04:00