How do you know if you have a high fever?

Do not guess by touching the forehead, just buy a basic digital thermometer from any chemist for 100-150 rupees. It is a one-time investment that saves you from unnecessary doctor visits. If the reading stays high for more than two days, then plan to get a blood test done to check for dengue or malaria.

My family physician always says that anything above 101°F is considered a high fever in adults. Along with body temperature, look out for extreme shivering, severe headache, or dehydration. If the fever is not coming down even after taking paracetamol, you must visit a doctor.

When I had dengue last year, my body was literally shivering like crazy even under two blankets, and my joints were aching. That's when I knew it was a high fever and not just a normal viral. Checked with a thermometer and it was 103, so please go get tested if you feel this bad.

Whenever my son gets a high fever, his eyes look totally red and his body feels boiling hot to touch. I always keep a digital thermometer handy to check the exact reading. If it crosses 102, I use clean tap water strips on his forehead and immediately call our pediatrician.