Fever and signs of a serious infection
A fever and symptoms that affect the brain and nervous system may mean a serious infection is present. Symptoms include:
- Severe headache with a stiff neck.
- Mental changes, such as confusion, increased fussiness, or decreased alertness (lethargy).
- Shaking chills.
- Severe eye sensitivity to light (photophobia).
The flu, which usually is not serious, can cause a high fever. You usually will also have body aches, rather than other, more serious, symptoms.
If a serious infection is present, other symptoms in addition to fever usually are present or will develop quickly. Any fever with signs of a serious infection needs to be evaluated immediately by a health professional.
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Editor | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | April 24, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
April 24, 2007
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