What Is a Fever?
Fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. (If your body temperature is higher than 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit when you are sick, you probably have a fever.)
A fever is almost always a sign that you have harmful germs growing somewhere inside you.
When you have a fever, your body produces more heat than it gives off. This makes the body temperature rise. Moderate fevers have their benefits.
Because high temperatures inhibit harmful germ growth, many doctors believe that fever is one way your body fights off infections and diseases.
A fever is also a good signal to you, your parents, and your doctor that you are sick.
Without fever, it’s much more difficult to tell if a person has an infection. That’s why grown-ups are concerned when you have a fever.