A fever is generally defined as a core body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. For infants under three months, any fever requires immediate evaluation. In older children and adults, a temperature reaching 103°F (39.4°C) is considered a high fever that warrants medical assessment. For seniors, normal body temperatures often run lower, so an elevation of just two degrees above their baseline, or a temperature of 100°F (37.8°C), may indicate a significant infection.
You should seek medical evaluation if an infant under three months has any fever, or if a child or adult has a fever over 103°F that does not respond to medication. Medical attention is also necessary if the fever lasts longer than three days or is accompanied by severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, a stiff neck, persistent vomiting, confusion, or a rash. Our direct primary care model ensures you can reach us quickly when these concerns arise.
In children, high fevers are most often caused by viral infections such as:
Adults commonly experience high fevers due to influenza, COVID-19, urinary tract infections, or respiratory infections like pneumonia. Seniors are particularly susceptible to fevers stemming from urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and skin infections, which can escalate quickly due to age-related changes in the immune system.
While both viral and bacterial infections cause fevers, the accompanying symptoms and duration often differ.
We evaluate your symptoms and run diagnostic tests to determine the exact cause.
For fever treatment and management, we can prescribe medications as needed to treat your illness, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals (if indicated), and we will advise you on how to manage your fever. We can also provide IV fluids and/or IM injections in the clinic for someone who is dehydrated or needs antibiotics or medications right away.
For self-care at home, we recommend:
Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, so we will perform a thorough clinical assessment and use other diagnostic tests to determine whether an antibiotic is needed. We may perform rapid point-of-care testing (such as a strep or flu swab) or order a blood or urine test to evaluate for a bacterial infection. We will follow evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic use to avoid antibiotic resistance and ensure you take antibiotics only when they are truly needed.
If your fever remains high despite taking appropriate amounts of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you should contact us. You can try using cool, damp cloths over your forehead or a lukewarm sponge bath to mechanically lower your body temperature. Avoid using cold water or rubbing with alcohol, and contact our office so that we can either change your treatment plan or evaluate you for complications.
If you have a fever and are experiencing any life-threatening symptoms such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, a stiff neck with a severe headache, seizures, or a decreased level of consciousness, you should be seen in an emergency department. Additionally, if your infant is less than 28 days old and has a fever, they should be evaluated in an emergency department. In all other non-life-threatening fever-related situations, please reach out to us at TBH Medical first.
As a direct primary care provider, the patient-provider relationship is direct and not interrupted by a third-party payor. You will have longer appointment times with your provider, very personalized care, and access to your nurse practitioner by phone or text. Unlike urgent care, we know your full medical history and can treat your fever in the context of your whole health.
Yes, we will prioritize your acute needs and provide same-day or next-day appointments for our members experiencing a high fever. Because we have a smaller patient panel than a traditional primary care practice, we can accommodate same-day appointments. Please call or message us before coming in so we can prepare for you and minimize your wait time.
Yes, we do offer in-home or telemedicine visits. Because we know you and your medical history, we can safely evaluate and treat you over the phone, through a video chat, or in your home. In some cases, we may be able to arrange for house calls to our members.
Our Colorado Springs clinic does offer rapid point-of-care testing for common conditions such as:
We can also perform a urinalysis to check for a urinary tract infection and draw blood for CBCs and metabolic panels. All of these tools help us figure out what is causing your fever and start treatment promptly.
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosing is based on weight in young patients, so you should never give medication to your child without discussing dosing with a healthcare provider first. Aspirin should never be given to children as it can cause Reye's syndrome. Our biggest priority in pediatric patients is ensuring they do not become dehydrated and monitoring for any changes in behavior, as kids tend to decline faster than adults.
Dehydration, confusion, and organ stress are all risks for the elderly when trying to manage a high fever. To mitigate this, we aim to evaluate elderly patients as soon as possible, either by bringing them to the clinic or by conducting a telehealth visit to avoid exposing them to other germs. We will always review your medications to ensure they won't interact with the treatment we are prescribing for your fever.
Patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and immune compromise require very close monitoring when they have a fever, as it may cause their chronic illness to become unstable, or it can be a sign of a very serious opportunistic infection. We work closely with our chronic disease patients and will sometimes even start treatment on them sooner than we would others, and check in on them frequently to make sure they are okay.
To prevent fever-causing illness at home and work, we recommend:
Yes, we do offer preventative care and can make referrals to specialists if needed. We also work with you to control your underlying health conditions, including any nutritional deficiencies or chronic diseases that may predispose you to serious illness.
After the fever has resolved, we would like to touch base with you either by text or via a telemedicine visit to ensure you are fully recovered and that there are no residual problems. If you required an antibiotic to treat a bacterial illness, we will want to follow up to make sure the medication worked completely. We would discuss any remaining symptoms and provide clearance for you to return to work or school.
The cost of clinical assessment and provider time for a fever is all included in your monthly TBH Medical membership, though there may be charges for other items. There are no copays or hidden charges for office visits and telemedicine consults.
Follow-up visits and provider communication are all included in your monthly membership. Rapid point-of-care testing and in-office procedures are often included in the monthly fee. Outside lab work and prescription medications are available to our members at retail prices. We can pass the savings on to you to help make your care more affordable.
Yes, we see patients with and without insurance. Because we do not participate with any insurance plans, your insurance status does not impact your ability to receive care at our office. The direct primary care model is ideal for those who are uninsured or under-insured and offers predictable monthly costs for your healthcare.
TBH Medical is conveniently located in Colorado Springs and serves the entire community. TBH Medical offers direct access to your provider via secure email, text message, and telemedicine. We offer same-day and next-day scheduling to minimize your wait to be seen.