A long-lasting and persistent fever can be painful, weakening, and debilitating. While it may be caused due to a viral infection, it often comes with symptoms like headaches, chills, and, in severe cases, confusion or delirium. According to doctors, fever is detected when your body temperature is slightly elevated – between 98.7°F and 100.4°F (37.05°C and 38.0°C) - and lasts for more than 24 hours.

Persistent and chronic fevers are typically defined as fevers lasting more than 10 -14 days.

Experts say if your fever does not come down within 24 hours, it is best to consult a doctor and get yourself checked for any underlying health condition that needs prompt action.

Most often, an increase in body temperature is a normal response to an infection, like a cold or the flu. However, experts say there can be many other less common causes of a persistent low-grade fever that only a doctor can diagnose. A few of these, include:

Your body temperature may increase to help kill the bacteria or virus causing an infection. Colds or the flu are caused by viruses and particularly cause a low-grade fever that lasts more than a few days. A few symptoms would include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, constant sneezes, cough, and fatigue

Also, viral pneumonia and bronchitis can cause a low-grade fever.

Doctors say urinary tract infections or UTIs – caused by a bacterial infection lead to high fever, along with pain and burning while urinating frequent urination, and bloody or dark urine. A doctor can examine a sample of urine under a microscope to diagnose a UTI.

If you are under chronic and emotional stress, you may have persistent fever, known as psychogenic fever – most common in youngsters, and people with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

According to doctors, fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen do not work against fevers caused by stress. Instead, anti-anxiety drugs are the therapy used to treat a psychogenic fever.

You can also be down with persistent fever due to highly infectious tuberculosis disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to doctors, the bacteria can remain inactive in your body for years and cause no symptoms, but when your immunity lowers, it becomes active, leading to symptoms like:

• Coughing
• Unexplained fatigue
• High fever
• Night sweats

Thyroid

When your thyroid gland gets inflamed, you may suffer from low-grade fever in some cases. According to doctors, the condition – known as subacute thyroiditis causes a low-grade fever in some cases, along with severe pain in muscles, fatigue, tiredness, and neck pain.

Ways to treat persistent low-grade fever

Usually, fever goes away on its own and a few over-the-counter medications can help treat it, but sometimes you can ride it out with rest.

Doctors say if you take medicine, you must choose between acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. For babies and infants younger than 3 months, call your doctor first before giving them any medication. For children, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are generally safe for reducing fever. Aspirin for children under 12 years old should be avoided.

Also, doctors say you are likely to sweat more when you have a fever, so, you need to replenish those fluids by drinking. Apart from water, you can have milk, coconut water, and fresh juices which also help energize your immune system. However, make sure to steer clear of caffeine - whether from soda, tea, coffee, or energy drinks. Caffeine makes you pee more, which could dehydrate you and interfere with your recovery.

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