Wellness Tips from Josef Schenker, MD
Welcome to our Wellness Tips blog series, proudly presented by Centers Urgent Care and Dr. Josef Schenker, our Medical Director. With years of expertise in internal medicine and emergency care, Dr. Schenker provides valuable advice to support your health and well-being.
This series dives into important health topics, offering prevention strategies and practical tips to help you manage common medical concerns. Each blog post is designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to make confident, informed decisions about your health.
How to Manage Recurring Fever
Fever is one of those symptoms that can feel like a minor inconvenience one day and a serious concern the next. While most fevers are temporary and harmless, others might signal deeper health issues. In fact, fever accounts for approximately 15% of Emergency Department (ED) visits in the elderly and 5% in adults.
Despite its commonality, fever isn’t as simple as it seems. It’s the body’s natural defense against infection but can become complex when it recurs or doesn’t resolve. Dr. Josef Schenker offers his insights into recurring fevers, helping us navigate when to stay calm and when to act.
Dr. Josef Schenker Explains The Different Types of Fever
A fever, technically defined as a temporary increase in body temperature, signals that something isn’t quite right in the body. According to Josef Schenker, MD, while the body’s thermostat adjusts for various reasons, understanding the patterns and classifications of fever can help in identifying its cause.
Here are the main types of fever:
- Intermittent Fever: Body temperature alternates between normal and high over 24 hours, commonly seen in malaria or tuberculosis.
- Remittent Fever: Temperature fluctuates but never returns to normal, often caused by respiratory infections or typhoid fever.
- Sustained Fever: A persistently high temperature that barely varies, frequently associated with serious infections like typhoid.
- Relapsing Fever: Episodes of fever followed by periods of normal temperature, often linked to conditions like Lyme disease.
- Low-Grade Fever: A mild increase in temperature, often under 100.4°F, which might indicate mild infections or chronic conditions.
- High-Grade Fever: Temperatures exceeding 103°F, signaling serious infections like meningitis or sepsis.
- Febrile Seizures: Convulsions triggered by a rapid fever spike, typically in young children.
- Hyperpyrexia: Extremely high fever above 106°F, a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
When to Take Fevers Seriously
Dr. Josef Schenker explains that fever is not an illness but a symptom—your body’s way of sounding an alarm. While a single fever can usually be managed at home, recurring fevers might be a sign of something more serious, like an underlying chronic condition or infection.
Common fever symptoms include:
- Chills: Feeling cold despite high body temperature, which can signal the fever is still escalating.
- Sweating: Indicates the body is trying to cool down, a common phase of fever recovery.
- Fatigue: General exhaustion as the body uses energy to fight off infection.
- Headache: A result of dehydration or inflammation during fever.
Here’s when a fever needs closer attention:
- Prolonged Fever: Lasting more than three days, suggesting possible infections or other underlying issues.
- Severe Dehydration: Extreme thirst, dry mouth, or reduced urination could indicate a medical emergency.
- Difficulty Breathing: A red flag for conditions like pneumonia or sepsis.
- Unexplained Rashes: Could indicate conditions like meningitis, especially with a stiff neck.
- Recurrent High Fever: Persistently high temperatures that keep returning may indicate autoimmune diseases or specific syndromes.
Josef Schenker, MD, Explains Periodic Fever Syndrome
Recurring fever may sometimes result from specific syndromes collectively known as periodic or recurrent fever syndromes. These conditions, though rare, can significantly impact quality of life if left unaddressed.
Dr. Josef Schenker lists some key syndromes to be aware of:
- Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF): A genetic disorder causing recurrent fever and inflammation, especially in the abdomen, chest, or joints.
- PFAPA Syndrome: Stands for Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and Adenitis—a condition common in children causing predictable cycles of fever.
- TRAPS (TNF Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome): Involves prolonged fever episodes with muscle pain, rash, and abdominal discomfort.
- Hyper-IgD Syndrome: A rare condition with periodic fever, abdominal pain, and skin rashes, often triggered by minor infections or stress.
- Cyclic Neutropenia: Recurring fevers associated with low white blood cell counts, leading to increased infection susceptibility.
Dr. Josef Schenker emphasizes that understanding these syndromes requires collaboration with healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment.
How To Deal with Recurring Fever
When dealing with recurring fever, Dr. Josef Schenker reiterates that the most critical step is understanding its cause. While some cases might be resolved with basic care, others require professional intervention. Dr. Schenker shares these practical tips:
- Consult a Healthcare Provider: Always seek medical advice if fevers persist, worsen, or are accompanied by alarming symptoms.
- Go to Urgent Care if Needed: If symptoms escalate rapidly or you’re unsure of the severity, urgent care can offer immediate evaluation.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which can worsen fever symptoms.
- Use Fever-Reducing Medications: Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage discomfort while awaiting further care.
- Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a fever diary, noting temperatures, duration, and accompanying symptoms to assist your doctor in diagnosis.
- Rest and Recover: Allow your body time to heal by prioritizing rest and avoiding strenuous activity during episodes.
Josef Schenker, MD, Answers Frequently Asked Questions:
How many days of fever is normal?
Fever usually lasts three to five days and resolves as the underlying cause improves. If a fever persists beyond five days or worsens, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider to determine if a more serious condition is present. You can also visit urgent care if other symptoms appear.
Why does my fever keep coming back?
Recurring fevers could result from untreated infections, autoimmune conditions, or syndromes like periodic fever syndrome. Each recurrence signals the need for a thorough medical evaluation to identify triggers, ensure proper treatment, and prevent complications.
What kind of fever is alarming?
Fevers exceeding 103°F, lasting longer than three days, or accompanied by symptoms like confusion, rash, breathing difficulty, or severe pain are alarming. Such signs may indicate serious infections or medical emergencies that require an immediate professional evaluation and treatment to ensure safety.
Fever Relief: Get Expert Advice
Recurring fevers can be a real drag, disrupting your daily life. If you’re tired of feeling under the weather, it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Don’t let possible underlying health conditions worsen before you take action.
At Centers Urgent Care, we’re here to help you feel your best. Our experienced team, led by Dr. Josef Schenker, can perform extensive diagnosis to identify the cause of your fevers and provide effective treatment accordingly. Don’t let fevers keep you down. Visit any of our locations across New York today!
About Josef Schenker, MD:
Dr. Josef Schenker, a board-certified expert in internal medicine and emergency medical services, brings extensive experience and compassion to his role as Medical Director and Partner at Centers Urgent Care. With leadership in SeniorCare Emergency Medical Services and as an Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Dr. Schenker oversees critical care and treatment protocols across varied medical needs. His dedication extends to chairing NYC REMAC, ensuring adherence to state standards in emergency medical procedures. At Centers Urgent Care, Dr. Schenker's expertise ensures prompt, high-quality emergency care for patients of all ages, supported by state-of-the-art facilities including a dedicated pediatric suite.
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