Fever
Alternate Names : Elevated Temperature, Hyperthermia, Pyrexia
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, which may include a detailed examination of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, chest, and abdomen to look for the cause of the fever. Your doctor may ask questions such as.
- How long has the fever lasted?
- Is it increasing? Is it increasing rapidly?
- Has the fever gone away?
- How many days did it take for the fever to go away?
- Do you have alternating chills and fever?
- How frequently does it alternate (days, hours)?
- Did it occur within four to six hours after exposure to something that you might be allergic to?
- Does the fever follow an up and down pattern (is it high, then lower, then high)?
- Did it develop suddenly?
- Does the temperature go up and down suddenly (spike) or does it change slowly?
- Does it go away and then come back again daily?
Treatment depends on the duration and cause of the fever, and on other accompanying symptoms.
The following diagnostic tests may be performed:
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