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| Meta Title | High temperature (fever) in adults - NHS |
| Meta Description | Find out about high temperature (fever) in adults including what causes it, how to tell if you have a high temperature and how to treat it. |
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| Boilerpipe Text | What is a high temperature?
Normal body temperature is different for everyone and changes during the day.
A high temperature is usually considered to be 38C or above. This is sometimes called a fever.
Check if you have a high temperature
You may have a high temperature if:
your chest or back feels hotter than usual
you have other symptoms, such as feeling hot or cold, feeling shivery (chills), sweating, or your skin being warm and red (this may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
a thermometer says your temperature is 38C or above
Important
If you feel hot, cold or shivery, you may have a high temperature even if a thermometer says your temperature is below 38C.
Taking your temperature
You do not need to take your temperature using a thermometer, but you can if you have one.
Make sure you use it correctly to help get an accurate result.
How to take your temperature with a digital thermometer
To use a digital thermometer:
Clean the tip with cold water and soap, then rinse it.
Turn the thermometer on.
Put the tip under your tongue, towards the back of your mouth.
Close your lips around the thermometer.
Wait until it beeps or flashes.
Remove the thermometer and check the temperature on the display.
You can also use a digital thermometer in your armpit. Make sure you keep your arm tight against your body until the thermometer beeps or flashes.
Other types of thermometer
If you use a digital ear thermometer, follow the instructions that come with it. You usually need to gently pull your ear up and back before putting the thermometer in your ear.
Do not use:
a glass thermometer because they can be dangerous
an infrared thermometer because some do not meet UK regulations
forehead strips because they're not accurate
Information:
Advice for children and babies
This page is for adults. For advice about children and babies, including how to take a temperature, see:
high temperature (fever) in children
how to take your baby's temperature
Treating a high temperature
There are some things you can do to help treat a high temperature.
Do
get lots of rest
drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration ā drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
take
paracetamol
or
ibuprofen
if you feel uncomfortable
Information:
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you do not have a high temperature.
Urgent advice:
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have:
a high temperature and you've been treating it at home but it's not getting better or is getting worse
You can call 111 or
get help from 111 online
.
Causes of a high temperature
Many things can cause a high temperature. It's not usually a sign of anything serious.
It's often just caused by your body fighting an infection, such as a
cold
or
flu
.
Sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious if your temperature is very high or will not come down.
Page last reviewed: 24 May 2023
Next review due: 24 May 2026 |
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# High temperature (fever) in adults
## What is a high temperature?
Normal body temperature is different for everyone and changes during the day.
A high temperature is usually considered to be 38C or above. This is sometimes called a fever.
## Check if you have a high temperature
You may have a high temperature if:
- your chest or back feels hotter than usual
- you have other symptoms, such as feeling hot or cold, feeling shivery (chills), sweating, or your skin being warm and red (this may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
- a thermometer says your temperature is 38C or above
### Important
If you feel hot, cold or shivery, you may have a high temperature even if a thermometer says your temperature is below 38C.
### Taking your temperature
You do not need to take your temperature using a thermometer, but you can if you have one.
Make sure you use it correctly to help get an accurate result.
How to take your temperature with a digital thermometer
To use a digital thermometer:
1. Clean the tip with cold water and soap, then rinse it.
2. Turn the thermometer on.
3. Put the tip under your tongue, towards the back of your mouth.
4. Close your lips around the thermometer.
5. Wait until it beeps or flashes.
6. Remove the thermometer and check the temperature on the display.
You can also use a digital thermometer in your armpit. Make sure you keep your arm tight against your body until the thermometer beeps or flashes.
### Other types of thermometer
If you use a digital ear thermometer, follow the instructions that come with it. You usually need to gently pull your ear up and back before putting the thermometer in your ear.
Do not use:
- a glass thermometer because they can be dangerous
- an infrared thermometer because some do not meet UK regulations
- forehead strips because they're not accurate
Information:
### Advice for children and babies
This page is for adults. For advice about children and babies, including how to take a temperature, see:
- [high temperature (fever) in children](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/)
- [how to take your baby's temperature](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/)
## Treating a high temperature
There are some things you can do to help treat a high temperature.
### Do
- get lots of rest
- drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration ā drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
- take [paracetamol](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/) or [ibuprofen](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/) if you feel uncomfortable
Information:
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you do not have a high temperature.
## Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have:
- a high temperature and you've been treating it at home but it's not getting better or is getting worse
You can call 111 or [get help from 111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms).
## Causes of a high temperature
Many things can cause a high temperature. It's not usually a sign of anything serious.
It's often just caused by your body fighting an infection, such as a [cold](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/) or [flu](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/).
Sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious if your temperature is very high or will not come down.
Page last reviewed: 24 May 2023
Next review due: 24 May 2026
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| Readable Markdown | ## What is a high temperature?
Normal body temperature is different for everyone and changes during the day.
A high temperature is usually considered to be 38C or above. This is sometimes called a fever.
## Check if you have a high temperature
You may have a high temperature if:
- your chest or back feels hotter than usual
- you have other symptoms, such as feeling hot or cold, feeling shivery (chills), sweating, or your skin being warm and red (this may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
- a thermometer says your temperature is 38C or above
### Important
If you feel hot, cold or shivery, you may have a high temperature even if a thermometer says your temperature is below 38C.
### Taking your temperature
You do not need to take your temperature using a thermometer, but you can if you have one.
Make sure you use it correctly to help get an accurate result.
How to take your temperature with a digital thermometer
To use a digital thermometer:
1. Clean the tip with cold water and soap, then rinse it.
2. Turn the thermometer on.
3. Put the tip under your tongue, towards the back of your mouth.
4. Close your lips around the thermometer.
5. Wait until it beeps or flashes.
6. Remove the thermometer and check the temperature on the display.
You can also use a digital thermometer in your armpit. Make sure you keep your arm tight against your body until the thermometer beeps or flashes.
### Other types of thermometer
If you use a digital ear thermometer, follow the instructions that come with it. You usually need to gently pull your ear up and back before putting the thermometer in your ear.
Do not use:
- a glass thermometer because they can be dangerous
- an infrared thermometer because some do not meet UK regulations
- forehead strips because they're not accurate
Information:
### Advice for children and babies
This page is for adults. For advice about children and babies, including how to take a temperature, see:
- [high temperature (fever) in children](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/)
- [how to take your baby's temperature](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/)
## Treating a high temperature
There are some things you can do to help treat a high temperature.
### Do
- get lots of rest
- drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration ā drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
- take [paracetamol](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/) or [ibuprofen](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/) if you feel uncomfortable
Information:
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you do not have a high temperature.
## Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have:
- a high temperature and you've been treating it at home but it's not getting better or is getting worse
You can call 111 or [get help from 111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms).
## Causes of a high temperature
Many things can cause a high temperature. It's not usually a sign of anything serious.
It's often just caused by your body fighting an infection, such as a [cold](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/) or [flu](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/).
Sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious if your temperature is very high or will not come down.
Page last reviewed: 24 May 2023
Next review due: 24 May 2026 |
| Shard | 75 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 11359509702434384875 |
| Unparsed URL | uk,nhs,www!/symptoms/fever-in-adults/ s443 |