Fever and itchy skin: what to know

Itching may occur with hives, eczema, contact irritation, scabies, or other skin conditions. Fever can also accompany an infection or a general illness that happens to include a rash. Look for raised welts, dry scale, blisters, pus, crusting, or a rash that fades when pressed. Record when the itch and fever began, whether they appeared together, and whether a new medicine, food, detergent, travel exposure, or sick contact preceded them. These details are more useful than judging the rash by colour alone.

Rest, drink fluids, and keep the room and skin comfortably cool. Use gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and moisturiser; trim nails to reduce damage from scratching. Avoid starting several over-the-counter treatments at once because they can irritate the skin or obscure the pattern. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether an antihistamine is suitable for your age, health conditions, and other medicines. Do not share towels, clothing, or bedding when scabies or another contagious cause is possible.

Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, throat or tongue swelling, collapse, severe drowsiness, or a rapidly worsening reaction. Seek urgent assessment for a rash with purple spots, skin peeling, painful blisters, mouth or eye involvement, severe headache, stiff neck, or confusion. Arrange a clinical review when fever lasts, the itch is intense, the rash spreads, or symptoms follow a new medicine.

Ask which features point toward allergy, infection, or inflammation; whether you need an examination or test; and which symptom-relief products are safe with your current medicines.