What Temperature Is Considered a Fever?

A fever is an indication your body is fighting off an infection. Everyone’s body runs at a slightly different base temperature, but the average is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. A fever is considered any temperature above 100.9F. You should seek medical attention if you are concerned about your fever. 

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What a Fever Is

A fever is not a disease or a virus. In many cases, a fever indicates your immune system is getting ready to fight off an infection. However, it's important to know that everyone’s body runs at a slightly different base temperature. Still, the average is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and anything above 100.9 F (or 100.4 F for children) constitutes a fever.

Fevers are not inherently bad, even if you feel uncomfortable. In fact, elevated body temperatures help immune cells move quicker.