Doctors set the record straight on 7 common fever myths
There are a lot of flu cases right now — at least 29 million so far this season, making this the worst flu season the U.S. has seen in nearly a decade, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fever, along with coughing and sore throat, is one of the main features of the flu, and yet this common symptom is surrounded by myths. “It’s definitely a time of year when we hear more of these myths,” Dr. David Cutler, a specialist in family medicine at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Life. “Not a week goes by that I’m not answering or clearing up questions about what a fever is, what to do about it or what having a fever means.”
These are the biggest myths about fevers that doctors say they’d like to set straight.
Myth No. 1: Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees
Technically, that’s not true, although there is plenty of confusion about this. “There is a complex discussion about what is a normal body temperature,” Cutler says. While most people think of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit as being the baseline for everyone, that number was established decades ago by a German physician who took millions of temperatures to come up with an average. But more recent research suggests that people can have various temperatures when they’re healthy — and that 97.9 might be a more accurate average.
In general, the medical community recognizes a fever as any temperature at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, Dr. Henry Young, associate professor in the department of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life. But if you have a normal body temperature that tends to be lower than 98.6, you may have feverish symptoms below 100.4, Cutler says.
Myth No. 2: Feed a cold, starve a fever
If you have a fever but feel like eating, Young says it’s important to continue to fuel your body. “‘Starving’ a fever can be dangerous as, when you are ill, your body requires calories to continue to function and to fight the infection,” he says.
That said, it’s OK if you aren’t very hungry when you have a fever, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. “The important thing is to keep up your fluids,” he says. “You can lose body fluids by sweating when you have a fever, and you may not even realize that you’re sweating.” He suggests focusing on water, sports drinks and fruit juices, and avoiding drinks with alcohol and caffeine, which can cause you to lose more fluid than usual.
Myth No. 3: Fevers are inherently dangerous
Having a fever isn’t fun, but it’s evidence that your body is doing the right thing. “Fever is a sign that your body is working to fight an infection and can be a good sign that your immune system is working,” Young says. “Fevers can slow the growth of a virus or bacteria in our bodies.”
Most fevers are not inherently dangerous, Schaffner says. The exception is when temperatures spike to extremely high numbers, like 105 or 106 degrees, he says. “Then, indeed, you can have problems,” and seeking medical attention is warranted.
Myth No. 4: Fever-reducing medications will help you get better
Taking an over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help you feel better in the moment. “But it is not going to actually kill the virus or bacteria causing the infection,” Young says. Instead, these medications can be helpful in treating the symptoms linked with a fever like body aches, chills, sweats and fatigue, he says.
“These medications can help you to feel more comfortable while you ride it out,” Schaffner explains. “If the fever is caused by something like an influenza infection, those medications won’t do anything for the virus itself.”
Myth No. 5: You need to call a doctor every time you have a fever
Not necessarily. If you feel uncomfortable but are able to get your symptoms under control with the help of fever-reducing medications, Schaffner says, there’s no need to call a doctor. But if your fever lingers for several days, makes you feel debilitated or confused or you have no idea what could be causing your lingering fever, it’s time to be seen by a doctor.
It’s also necessary to contact a health care provider sooner if the patient is in a vulnerable group. “For some individuals, fevers can be more serious than for others — particularly the very young, the very old or individuals with a weakened immune system,” Young says.
Myth No. 6: No-touch thermometers are as accurate as gold-standard oral ones
No-touch thermometers have been around for years, but they became massively popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these thermometers can tell your temperature, research suggests they’re generally not as good at giving an accurate reading as oral thermometers.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use one of these though. “The no-touch thermometers are appealing because they can be faster and allow a greater distance between the sick individual and the person collecting the temperature,” Young says. They’re also easier to use with young children, who tend to reject putting a thermometer in their mouth, he points out.
“The key thing is that you have to use them correctly,” Schaffner says. (That means following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.) Schaffner suggests getting a few readings with a no-touch thermometer to see how consistent they are.
Myth No. 7: All fevers need to be treated
A fever is a sign that your body is fighting off an infection, Schaffner says. “But there’s a distinction between the cause of the fever and the fever itself,” he says. If you have a lower fever and you feel generally OK, Schaffner says you don’t need to treat it.
But if you have a fever and feel lousy, taking an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help you feel better and even bring the fever down, he says. Still, Young says that fevers won’t necessarily continue to go up if you don’t treat them.
If you have a fever, Schaffner recommends doing your best to stay well hydrated. “Try to rest and be alert to see whatever else is happening in your body,” he says. “If someone else is going on, that’s a signal to seek medical attention.”
