silly little question

[sweetieann]

I know there's a few different variables to consider (age, baseline, etc).....but what temperature were you taught constitutes a fever? We were taught in school that, generally, a "fever" is considered any temp OVER 101. As in, 101 would still be "normal." I personally always considered over 100 to be a temp.....what's correct? At what temp would you call the Dr.?

Thanks!

[nitetimeobnurse]

Most of the time it is usually 100.5 when the doc wants to know, or if celcius 38.0 is what I hve been told in the past to notify of.

[jnrsmommy]

I was also taught in school that two degrees above baseline can indicate a fever, especially in the geriatric pop. I know that my so temp is always low 97s, so when he starts hitting above 99, I know something is up.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Soooo, just gotta look at the whole picture and not the "numbers" so much.

I forgot to stress this enough in my previous post but I agree whole heartedly.

Sometimes a fever can be a good thing... despite how "sucky and miserable" it may make a patient feel.