7 Myths About Fevers Doctors Wish People Would Stop Believing
Including whether fevers are actually contagious.
No one likes taking their temperature and seeing the thermometer display a number in the triple digits. For the record, a fever is a higher-than-normal body temperature. For adults, this means anything over 100.4℉ and for kids, anything higher than 99.5℉ when measured orally, according to Cleveland Clinic. Often, a fever is a sign of sickness and is accompanied by some pretty unpleasant symptoms, like chills and body aches.
But according to doctors, there are a whole lot of myths surrounding fevers going around—including that having one is always a bad thing. Here, doctors set the record straight on seven myths about fevers they want everyone to stop believing.
Related: Start to Feel Better ASAP! 11 Ways to Break a Fever, According to Doctors
7 Myths About Fevers
Myth 1: Fevers are bad
“While often unpleasant, fevers are the body’s natural response to fight infection and can actually be a good thing!” shares Dr. Caroline Cederquist, MD, a family and functional medicine doctor and the medical director at Cederquist Medical Wellness Center and BistroMD.
She explains that having a fever is a sign that the body is fighting off an infection, which is exactly what it’s meant to do when it comes in contact with one. That said, she adds that it’s still important to monitor your fever to make sure you’re recovering effectively.
Myth 2: Having a fever means you’ve come down with a virus
While viruses can cause fevers, Dr. Megan Berman, MD, FACP, an internal medicine doctor and associate professor of general medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch, says that there are many other causes too. She says that infections (including urinary tract infections and ear infections) can also cause fevers.
Other possible reasons for a fever include heat exhaustion, certain inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis), immunizations (including the COVID vaccine), and certain medications (including antibiotics and blood pressure medication).
All of this is to say, don’t assume that you know why you have a fever.
Related: Do You Have the Flu? Here's Everything You Need to Know About Navigating Symptoms and Treatment
Myth 3: Fevers are always contagious
According to both doctors, fevers are sometimes contagious and sometimes they aren’t; it depends on the cause. “While we often assume we are contagious if battling a fever, it doesn’t automatically mean you are,” Dr. Cederquist says. For example, she explains that if the reason for the fever is heat exhaustion, an autoimmune and inflammatory condition, UTI, ear infection or immunization, it is not contagious.
Myth 4: You should see a doctor any time you have a fever
Sometimes it’s helpful to see a healthcare provider when you have a fever. Other times, it’s best to just let it run its course. “As a general rule, you should see a doctor if your fever doesn’t respond to home treatments, exceeds 103°F, or if it doesn’t break after three days,” Dr. Cederquist says.
Dr. Berman says that anyone in a “high risk” group should see a doctor when they get a fever to receive treatment early before their illness could get worse and, therefore, more serious. This, she says, includes children under age five, adults older than 65, individuals who are pregnant, and anyone with an underlying health condition. “At the end of the day, if there is ever a question or concern, then see a doctor," she recommends. "That's what doctors and health care professionals are for!”
That said, these reasons aside, you can rest up at home and wait for your fever to subside instead of going straight to the doctor as soon as the number on the thermometer creeps up.
Myth 5: Leaving the house with wet hair can cause a fever
Did you grow up hearing the adage “never leave the house with wet hair”? PSA: doing so won’t cause you to get a fever. “People often believe being out in cold temperatures can cause us to get sick and a subsequent fever, although it’s viruses—not the cold—that can make us sick,” Dr. Cederquist explains. That said, she does say that cold weather may limit immune response and, therefore, make it more likely for someone to get sick. But the truth is, going out in cold weather doesn’t directly cause fevers.
Myth 6: Drinking coffee can cause a fever
Dr. Berman says that she sometimes has patients with an elevated temperature and they believe it’s because they drank coffee that morning. “This is simply not the case,” she shares. While consuming caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure, Dr. Berman says it shouldn’t cause anyone to spike a fever.
Myth 7: If you can, it’s okay to power through and still go to work
Maybe you have a fever, but you aren’t completely run-down and think you can power through the day at work. Or your child has a fever but otherwise seems okay, so you think they should still go to school. Dr. Berman warns against both cases. “If COVID has taught us anything, it’s to stay home when we’re sick,” she says. To this point, a fever is one of the signs of COVID, so it’s important to do a COVID test if you do have a fever.
Especially if you aren’t exactly sure what’s causing your fever, she says it’s best to play it safe. This not only helps the body recover but keeps other people from getting sick too.
While fevers are unpleasant, they are very rarely something to freak out about. Remember, fevers aren’t bad! What’s important is to figure out why you have a fever and seek treatment accordingly.
Next up, see a list of 18 of the best foods to eat if you're feeling nauseous.
Sources
Dr. Caroline Cederquist, MD, a family and functional medicine doctor and the medical director at Cederquist Medical Wellness Center and BistroMD
Dr. Megan Berman, MD, FACP, an internal medicine doctor and associate professor of general medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch
