Patient education: Fever in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is a fever? — A fever is a rise in body temperature that goes above a certain level. In general, a fever means a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C). You might get slightly different numbers depending on how you take your temperature: oral (mouth), armpit, ear, forehead, or rectal.

What causes fever? — The most common cause of fever in adults is infection. Infections that can cause fever include:

●COVID-19

●A cold or flu

●A lung infection, such as pneumonia

●A stomach virus

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Drink lots of water, juice, or broth to replace fluids lost from the fever.

●Dress in lightweight clothes. Use a sheet or light blanket if you are cold.

●Take medicine like acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) to help bring down your fever.

●Stay at home until your fever is gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. If you had an infection, this helps prevent it from spreading to other people.

●Wash your hands often (figure 1). Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow instead of your hands. When around others, you might also want to wear a face mask. These steps can help keep the people around you healthy.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, and other symptoms like:

•Trouble breathing

•Severe headache and neck stiffness

•Confusion

•Seizure

●You have signs of severe fluid loss, such as:

•You have no urine for more than 8 hours.

•You feel very lightheaded or like you are going to pass out.

•You feel weak, like you are going to fall.

Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher that lasts for several days or keeps coming back.

●You develop early signs of fluid loss, such as:

•Dark-colored urine

•Dry mouth

•Muscle cramps

•Lack of energy

•Feeling lightheaded when you get up

●You have a rash.

●You have stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

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Patient education: COVID-19 overview (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
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