Understanding COVID-19: Fever, Temperature Range, and Key Symptoms
Unraveling how fever and temperature affect COVID-19 symptoms, outcomes, and care decisions for all ages.
What Is the Temperature Range for COVID-19?
Fever is one of the most frequently reported symptoms of COVID-19 and often serves as an early indicator of infection. Although fever is common, not every individual with COVID-19 will experience a rise in body temperature. The nature, duration, and intensity of fever in the context of COVID-19 can vary significantly from person to person. This article explores the temperature range associated with COVID-19, its clinical relevance, and guidance on when to seek medical care.
Defining Fever: What Temperature Constitutes a Fever?
- Normal Body Temperature: Typically between 97°F to 99°F (36°C to 37°C), depending on age, activity, time of day, and method of measurement.
- Fever Threshold: A body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is considered a fever, regardless of the underlying cause.
- Variation by Age:
- Infants: Seek medical attention for temperatures ≥ 100.4°F (38°C).
- Children: Clinical attention recommended for temperatures ≥ 102.2°F (39°C).
- Adults: Temperatures ≥ 103°F (39.4°C) warrant medical evaluation.
Fever and COVID-19: Prevalence and Patterns
Fever is a classic sign of your immune system responding to infection. For COVID-19 in particular, fever has been widely reported but is not universally present in all cases. The likelihood of experiencing a fever and its severity can differ by age group, timing in the course of illness, and individual factors.
How Common Is Fever in COVID-19?
- Across nine countries, 78% of 24,420 adults with COVID-19 developed a fever during illness.
- A later review of 17,515 adults and children found 79.43% of adults exhibited fever; low- and medium-grade fevers were more common than high fevers.
- In children, fever is less prevalent. In a cohort of 373 children, only 45.86% had fever—over half of children under 18 presented without fever.
| Population | % with Fever | Type of Fever |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | ~78–80% | Mostly low to moderate grade |
| Children | ~45% | Rarely high fevers |
Fever Onset in COVID-19
Symptoms can develop between 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Fever may be among the earliest symptoms, but its absence does not rule out COVID-19 infection, especially in mild cases or among children.
Other Symptoms of COVID-19
Fever is often only one part of the overall symptom profile for COVID-19. Common symptoms that accompany or substitute for fever include:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Respiratory difficulties (shortness of breath)
- Chills (which may or may not coincide with fever)
It’s possible to experience sweats, chills, or general malaise even in the absence of fever.
Clinical Significance of Fever in COVID-19
While fever is common among those with COVID-19, its degree and persistence may have implications for illness severity and outcomes. However, the presence or height of a fever alone does not predict disease progression. Key findings from research:
What others are reading
Hospitalization and Fever
- The vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients report fever.
- A high fever at hospital admission (initially) does not strongly correlate with mortality risk.
- Persistent high fever during illness is associated with increased risk of death.
- Patients with fevers that spiked to 104°F (40°C) or higher had a 42% mortality rate.
- Abnormally low body temperature (< 96.8°F / 36°C) signals the poorest outcomes.
| Temperature | Correlation with Mortality (COVID-19) |
|---|---|
| >104°F (40°C) | Mortality rate ~42% |
| <96.8°F (36°C) | Highest death rate |
These associations suggest that both extreme high and low body temperature may reflect impaired physiological regulation, which could be markers of severe COVID-19 infection.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Monitoring body temperature can help gauge illness severity and determine when to seek medical attention. Guidelines for when to see a doctor include:
- Infants: Temperature ≥ 100.4°F (38°C)
- Children: Temperature ≥ 102.2°F (39°C)
- Adults: Temperature ≥ 103°F (39.4°C)
- Any persistent or severe fever, especially if it does not resolve with at-home treatment
- Fever accompanied by difficulty breathing, confusion, chest pain, persistent vomiting, or other severe symptoms
Additionally, you should consult with a healthcare provider if fever is accompanied by the following:
- Shortness of breath or labored breathing
- Blue lips, face, or extremities
- Unresponsiveness or altered mental status
These may indicate severe complications requiring urgent medical attention.
Understanding Temperature Sensitivity: Does Heat Affect the Virus?
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is sensitive to heat. Research shows high temperatures can deactivate the virus, though practical applications of this knowledge in daily life are limited mostly to settings like laundry and medical decontamination.
Key Findings on Temperature and SARS-CoV-2:
- Exposure to 70°C (158°F) for 2.5–5 minutes rapidly kills the virus.
- Exposing the virus to 65°C (149°F) for at least 3 minutes is effective, but longer exposure is better at lower temperatures.
- Increasing the temperature by an additional 10°C (18°F) may improve kill rates.
- High temperatures may be used to disinfect N95 respirators in healthcare contexts (e.g., 70°C for 1 hour).
- Regular household practices—like cleaning surfaces and handwashing—are more practical than relying on temperature to kill the virus at home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is fever always present in COVID-19?
A: No. While fever occurs in most adults with COVID-19, a substantial number—especially children—never develop a fever during their illness.
Q: What body temperature is considered dangerous in COVID-19?
A: Temperatures ≥ 104°F (40°C) are associated with higher risk of complications, and those with low body temperature (<96.8°F or 36°C) face the highest rates of poor outcomes.
Q: Should you rely on fever alone to diagnose or manage COVID-19?
A: No. Diagnosis and decisions about care should consider all symptoms, possible exposure history, and risk factors. Fever may be absent, especially in mild cases or children.
Q: Can high temperatures at home kill the virus?
A: Routine home heating cannot usually achieve the necessary temperatures for quickly killing SARS-CoV-2; focus instead on regular disinfection and hygiene practices.
Q: When should someone with COVID-19 symptoms seek emergent care?
A: Seek care immediately for difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion, bluish skin/lips, or inability to wake or respond. These may signal severe complications.
Takeaway
Fever is a frequent but not universal symptom of COVID-19. Its presence, intensity, and persistence may reflect the severity of infection, yet fever alone should not determine management or predict outcomes. Monitoring temperature along with other symptoms is essential, with special attention to high-risk groups, such as infants, older adults, and those with chronic medical conditions. Hygiene practices and prompt attention to severe symptoms remain the cornerstone of managing COVID-19.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/infection/coronavirus-temperature-range
- https://ada.com/covid/covid-19-fever-range/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/what-temperature-kills-coronavirus
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.554964/full
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7229913/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7463156/
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40414-z
- https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.02291-09
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