4 Signs That Let You Detect a Fever Without a Thermometer
While using a thermometer is the most
definitive way to tell if you have a fever, it’s by far not the only way
to know whether or your body temperature has reached alarmingly high
levels. In fact, if you don’t have a thermometer on hand, you can still
detect a fever by its other symptoms.
Normal Temperature is Relative
As a matter of fact, doctors now know that what is considered “normal”
body temperature is relative - not only does the body temperature
fluctuate throughout the day, but it also changes with age, throughout
the menstrual cycle in women, and just from one individual to another
The table above shows the range of what is
considered a normal body temperature based on age and how it is
measured. If you want to know what the normal body temperature is for
you, try creating a body temperature journal by measuring and writing
down your body temperature in the morning and evening every day for a
few weeks to a month.
What does this relativity of body temperature mean for you? Practically
speaking, this means that your normal body temperature may be lower or
higher than the “gold standard” temperature of 98.6°F (36.6°C). It also
means that it may be difficult for you to detect if you have a low-grade
fever based on your body temperature alone.
What are the symptoms of a fever?
When you’re not able to take your temperature or suspect that you might
have a fever, watch out for any of the following symptoms that often
accompany a fever:
Dehydration. Although many people are not aware of this, a fever can
be dehydrating for the body, which is, in part, why your doctor will
always stress for you to drink plenty of water when you have the flu
that’s accompanied by a high fever. So, a dry mouth and thirst may point
to a fever.
Sometimes, when the dehydration is quite extreme, people may even
experience confusion and brain fog when they have a fever. This symptom
is closely linked with the next symptom we discuss.
Sweating. You’re likely aware of the phenomenon of night sweats,
which people with respiratory infections often experience. Although
sweating at night is a hallmark of the flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia, a
high fever of any cause may make you sweat excessively.
This is because sweating is the way our body naturally tries to cool
down when we’re running a fever, but if you don’t drink enough, it
could lead to dehydration. As Dr. Jordana Haber pointed out to the
Insider, "With high fevers, we can lose a significant amount of fluid
through sweating."
Chills. One of the most common symptoms of
fever is shivering and chills throughout the body. In fact, for many
people, chills are the surest way to determine that they have a fever.
Chills are especially common at the onset of a disease when the body is
trying to raise its temperature to kill germs.
Red cheeks. The flushing of the face and the body, especially the chest
area is another common symptom of fever. This process occurs when the
blood vessels are dilated in order to increase the blood flow to the
various body parts and allow infection-fighting immune cells arrive and
kill pathogens more quickly. You might even feel like your cheeks and
forehead are burning.
Muscle aches and weakness. Muscle aches that are not caused by physical
activity can point to a great many different health conditions, but
infections are probably the most common one. Apart from aching muscles
and joints, you may also experience weakness and a headache. These pains
and soreness are a side effect of the active immune response to a
pathogen.
When our body detects a virus, be it the flu or any bacterium, virus, or
another pathogen, it starts releasing compounds called cytokines to
alert the immune system of the intruders. These inflammatory proteins,
though beneficial, also have the side effect of breaking down muscle
tissues, which results in muscle aches and fatigue.
When to Be Concerned
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, but cannot measure your
temperature accurately using a thermometer, you can still be sure that
what you feel is, in fact, a fever. Of course, you can also feel your
forehead and see if it’s hot to the touch or ask someone else to do it
for you. While it can help further confirm your suspicion, a hot
forehead on its own is not a definitive symptom of fever.