Your body will provide a natural response if a bacteria or virus wants to enter your body. This response is also known as a fever. The moment you get a fever, your body temperature will rise to 38 degrees or above. This is because your body is producing antibodies against the virus or bacteria. The heat makes you sweat, causing the virus or bacteria to disappear from your body. Your body temperature will never rise to 42 degrees or higher. Your body will also ensure it can lose the heat by sweating. Despite the fact it can cause some very unpleasant symptoms, a fever is actually very useful. Not only is it your body’s way of signalling that something isn’t right, it also results in your liver producing substances which will stop the bacteria and viruses from continuing to multiply. A fever can also be caused by heat stroke or poisoning, in addition to bacteria and viruses.
You may have the following symptoms with a fever:
There are a number of things you can do yourself if you have a fever:
The fever will usually subside within 5 to 7 days and you won’t need to worry. However, a fever can also be caused by something more serious. We therefore recommend you contact your GP if:
Don’t immediately go and see your GP if you have a fever. You may be infected with the coronavirus. Follow your GP’s or the doctor’s assistant’s advice and they will make sure you can still visit the surgery if necessary.