What should you know about 101 degree fever?

Confirm the reading, support comfort and observe the person's breathing and responsiveness. Fever commonly accompanies infection, but the thermometer cannot reveal the source or severity by itself.

Fever reflects a change in the body's temperature regulation, often during an immune response. Chills can occur while temperature rises, and sweating may appear as it settles. The person's comfort and function may change throughout that cycle.

Associated symptoms guide the likely source. Bronchiolitis often presents with cough, noisy or difficult breathing and feeding trouble in young children; croup commonly presents with a barking cough and harsh breathing sound. Fever can accompany either condition, without proving that either one is responsible.

Use a dependable thermometer as directed and record where the reading was taken. Encourage frequent sips, allow rest, and keep clothing comfortably light. Monitor urine output, energy, breathing and the ability to drink.

If discomfort calls for fever medicine, select only a product suitable for that individual and follow its instructions. A pharmacist can screen for medicine interactions, duplicate ingredients, allergies and conditions that make a product unsuitable. Do not use cold-water immersion or alcohol rubs.

Call emergency services if the person is struggling for breath, has blue or grey lips, cannot be roused normally, develops a seizure or collapses. Severe headache with a stiff neck, or a rash that remains visible under pressure, also requires urgent assessment.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly for a very young baby, immune suppression, poor fluid intake, much less urination, persistent vomiting, worsening pain or a clear decline in general condition. Seek review when fever continues without improvement or returns after the person seemed to recover.

Report recent travel, sick contacts, rashes, cough, urinary symptoms, pain and all medicines taken. Ask whether an examination or test is indicated, how to maintain hydration and which specific changes should prompt another call.