Identifying a fever is reasonably straightforward if a thermometer is available. Even without a thermometer, there are techniques to determine whether a person has a fever. Especially crucial is the monitoring of fevers in infants and toddlers.
When the body’s temperature climbs above 100.4°F (38°C) for an extended period, a fever develops.
The majority of fevers do not require treatment, however, some home treatments help alleviate the symptoms. However, anyone with a very high fever should consult a physician for a thorough diagnosis.
Along with a fever, a person should seek expert medical care if they have:
- Other serious or deteriorating symptoms
- trouble breathing and chest pain, particularly if the patient has COVID-19 signs such as significant pain or edema.
Checking for a fever without a thermometer
Many individuals may recognize the symptoms of a fever. Some describe it as a warm sensation.
Without a thermometer, it is impossible to diagnose a fever with absolute precision. Nonetheless, several procedures can provide a good indication of whether or not a person has a fever.
These strategies include:
1. The Act Of Touching The Forehead
Touching the back of a person’s hand to their forehead is a typical way to determine whether or not they have a fever. If the individual has a fever, their forehead may be extremely warm.
This may have inaccuracies, however, it may contain useful general information.
However, a person suspected of having a fever who touches their own forehead may not feel anything out of the ordinary. Therefore, it is essential to seek assistance from others.
Additionally, a person may be able to detect a temperature by placing their face against their forehead. However, this may not be advisable if COVID-19 is suspected. Always wash your face after laying your cheek on another person’s forehead.
2. Squeezing The Hand
Dehydration is one of the symptoms of a fever. A person can check for dehydration by pinching the skin on the back of their hand, releasing it, and observing it closely.
If they are adequately moisturized, their skin will immediately return to its normal position. If the skin is moving slowly, the individual is likely dehydrated.
Inaccurate, as dehydration may not necessarily imply a fever.
3. Checking For Redness In The Cheeks
A person can determine whether they have a fever by looking in the mirror for evidence of flushed cheeks.
If this is the case, the cheeks may appear ruddy or violet, or simply more colorful than usual.
4. Evaluating Urine Color
The color of a person’s urine may also indicate whether or not they have a fever.
Due to dehydration caused by fever, the body may not produce as much urine as usual. This results in urine that is more concentrated, dark yellow or orange in color, and perhaps odorous.
5. Shivering
Shivering is the body’s attempt to warm itself in response to chilly temperatures. However, infants do not typically shiver because they have a distinct method of warming up. Consequently, shivering may indicate an underlying condition, such as a fever.
However, as is the case with the majority of newborn behaviors, shivering may be nothing more than an indication of an immature nervous system; we’ve addressed similar topics in our articles about baby lip quivers and baby shudders.
6. Irritable
A baby with a fever will be miserable and extremely cranky. There is nothing you can do to console them, and they may continue to wail incessantly. A baby with a fever will exhibit additional signs in addition to irritability. If you act entirely based on the fact that your infant is in a poor mood, you will drive yourself insane!
7. Crying
Understandably, if your infant is ill, he or she will likely cry a great deal. If you observe that your baby is unusually fussy when he or she is usually in a good mood, it may be an indication that your child is ill. As with anything, though, ensure that his or her sobbing is not caused by something else, such as a dirty diaper or an empty stomach. Try to avoid introducing disrupting activities, such as sleep training, if you are convinced that your infant is ill. Instead, you should hug your infant more frequently and comfort them during the night. All of this is ok! If necessary, you may always retrain your child to revert to his or her normal sleeping habits once he or she has recovered.
8. Normal Habits Have Changed
Only a parent who knows their child well would be able to recognize these indications, therefore do not expect an on-call caregiver to recognize them. If you observe your child being restless when they are typically drowsy, refusing to eat when they should be hungry, or irritable when they are typically cheerful, something may be amiss. When combined with any of the aforementioned indicators, it may be time to take action to reduce your infant’s temperature.
