How to Tell if You Have a Fever Without a Thermometer

How to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer may relate to the situation of manifesting the symptoms of fever. Normally, the temperature of everyone’s body changes. However, these changes can be as a result of exercise, eating, sleeping and could even be due to the time of day.

On average, the body temperature that is taken with a thermometer in the mouth is 37ºC. Subsequently, any temperature between 36.5ºC and 37.2ºC can be considered normal. Additionally, the armpit temperatures are 0.2ºC to 0.3ºC lower.

Fever, typically, is an increase in body temperature and it is mostly temporary. It is often caused by illness. Having a fever signifies that there is something out of the ordinary going on in your body.

In an adult, experiencing fever may be uncomfortable, but normally it shouldn’t cause any worry unless if the symptoms persist. While in children and toddlers, a slightly increased temperature may signify a serious infection.

Usually, fevers often go off within a few days. There are a number of over-the-counter medications that can lower fever.

However, it is sometimes better to leave it untreated. This is because fever seems to play a vital role to help the body fight off a number of infections.

How to Ascertain Your Temperature if You do Not Have a Thermometer

There are certain common symptoms and signs that manifest when your temperature goes above its normal level. There may be a difference between individuals and it may come and go as long as the temperature is high.

In the case where a thermometer is not available, there can be some ways to identify its fever. However, the following signs and symptoms may tell that you have a high temperature without a thermometer:

• The skin will feel hot to touch- When you place a hand on your forehead or other parts of the body and it feels obviously hotter than usual. The body may be either dry or wet from sweat too. In addition, it is not advisable to feel the hands and feet because it will feel cold even when the temperature is high.

• A flushed skin- The skin usually becomes flushed when you have a temperature. This can be most noticeable on the face, particularly on the cheeks. On the other hand, on dark skin, it may be more difficult to see.

• Shivering of the body- It is very common to shiver as your temperature goes up and down. Even when the weather is normal to feel very cold even when people around you are feeling comfortable.

• The feeling hot and cold- Another indication that you may be having a fever is when you alternating between feeling hot, and maybe sweaty, and cold.

• Some other signs may include feeling tired, weak and nauseous. Interest to play may not be there, in the case of children. Loss of appetite is another common symptom. Although, these symptoms only may not necessarily indicate a case of high temperature.

Other Symptoms to Show a Sign That You Have a Fever

It is advisable that before you start searching for a thermometer, you ought to take note of certain symptoms.

You may need to find out if you are clammy? Or Tired? Fever can be tricky with the symptoms that come with it, especially in infants and toddlers.

Some of the most common symptoms of fever include:

General feeling of weakness

Headache

Chills

Warm forehead

Loss of appetite

Aching muscles

Sore eyes

Dehydration

Swollen lymph nodes

In young children or infants who may have a fever, such experience can be seen:

Greater irritability than usual

Refusal to eat, drink, or breastfeed

Flushed skin

Difficulty swallowing

Lethargy

Paleness

In very severe cases, fever may cause:

Excessive sleepiness

Vomiting

Confusion

Severe pain in other parts of the body

Unusual vaginal discharge

Convulsions

Pain during urination

Skin rash

Diarrhea

Fever in Adults – An Overview

Fever also is known as pyrexia, is a situation where body temperature is higher than normal. This symptom can be caused by a large variety of illnesses.

Anyone within any age range may have it. That notwithstanding, fever in adults is, however, been put into focus.

Exhaustion and chills caused by a fever are being experienced by everyone. It often manifests in reaction to infection such as viruses that bring cold, flu, strep throat bacterial infection.

Others are inflammation that occurs with tissue injury or disease. However, there are other many causes of fever, which include drugs, poisons, heat exposure, injuries or abnormalities to the brain. As well as the disease of the endocrine (hormonal or glandular) system.

It is possible for a fever to come without other symptoms. Fever is mostly followed by particular complaints, which may help to identify the illness causing it. This can make it easy for the doctor to come up with a
necessary.

Body Temperature in Adults

Depending on a different individual, normal body temperature may vary at any time of day, and weather as well. For many adults, a temperature of 98.6F or 37C or Celsius is considered to be normal.

Hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the temperature. It functions as a thermostat for the body. It is also responsible for maintaining a normal temperature.

This is processed through heating mechanisms, such as shivering and increased metabolism. Other processes include, cooling mechanisms, such as sweating and dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

Fever usually come-up in the body when the immune response is triggered by pyrogens, which is a fever-producing substance. Pyrogens is usually originated from a source outside the body.

It stimulates the production of additional pyrogens in the body. There is an increase in the temperature setpoint when the pyrogens alert the hypothalamus. Hence, the body begins to shiver in response and the blood vessels also constrict.

At this point, we get under the covers in an attempt to reach the new temperature that is higher than normal. More so, the body is capable of producing other pyrogens and this is usually a response to inflammation.

This process that takes place in the body is referred to as cytokines also known as endogenous pyrogens.

Fever producing substances known as pyrogens from outside the body and these include the following:

• Fungi
• Toxins
• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Drugs

The Measurement of Body Temperature

There are different points through which the body temperature is measured. The body temperature is usually measured with a thermometer which is inserted on or into the rectum, mouth, under the armpit, skin, or ear.

A major and most common way of measuring body temperature has always been with a mercury thermometer. In recent times, because of glass breakage and the possibility of subsequent mercury contamination, many countries now use digital thermometers.

This enables temperature measurement from all the body regions in the above list. Also, you can use disposable sensitive temperature strips to measure the skin temperature

In adults, oral temperature measurement is most commonly used. In another instance, the rectal temperatures are known to be the most accurate because environmental factors that increase or decrease temperature measurements. This to a very large extent have the least effect on the rectal area. The variation in the measurement of rectal temperatures, when compared to oral temperatures taken at the same time, is about 0.6 C higher. Consequently, an accurate measurement of body temperature of 38 C or above is considered to be a “fever” and the person has a febrile illness.

Some of the new alternatives include a temperature-sensitive infrared device that measures the temperature in the skin. This work by simply rubbing the sensor of the device on the body. You can buy these devices in most pharmacies

How to Prevent Fever

Fever can be preventable. You can prevent it by reducing exposure to infectious diseases. Some of the tips that can help out include:

1. It is very necessary that you always wash your hands often and teach your children to do the same. This is usually before eating, after using the toilet. Others are, after spending time in a crowd or around someone who’s sick, after petting animals, and during travel on public transportation.
2. Always show your children a thorough way to wash their hands, covering both the front and back of each hand. Applying with soap and rinsing completely under running water.

• It is also advisable to carry hand sanitizer with you in case you don’t have access to soap and water.

• Make effort to avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. These are the main openings that viruses and bacteria can enter your body and cause infection.

• Endeavor to cover your mouth when you cough and your nose when you sneeze, and as well, teach your children to do likewise. As possible as you can, make efforts to turn away from others when coughing or sneezing to avoid passing germs along to them.

• It is very important to state that the avoidance of sharing cups, water bottles and utensils with your child or children is necessary.