What is a subfebrile temperature (low-grade fever)?

A subfebrile temperature (low-grade fever) is a temperature in the range of 98.6-99.5 °F, which may persist for a couple of days without symptoms of any disease. The cause may be anything from everyday stress to serious hormonal disorders.

Causes

A fever can be caused by stressful situations or psychological issues. In women, it can appear during the menstrual cycle. In pregnant women, subfebrile temperature may last up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

A fever can also appear when recovering from serious acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, pneumonia, and other inflammatory diseases. If diagnosis confirms that everything is fine, then there is no need to worry. To speed up the recovery process, you should rest more and eat well. You should also limit alcohol consumption, which aggravates subfebrile fever.

It is not uncommon for young women who are on strict diets to get subfebrile fever. The body gets tired, weak, and stressed. Iron deficiency and anemia often appear, and metabolism changes. All of these can contribute to the appearance of a fever.

The body may also react with a fever to certain medications, depending on individual characteristics.

When to see a doctor

If the fever is accompanied by chills, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, increased sweating, or shortness of breath, it could be a sign of a more serious condition and you should see your doctor. Your doctor will examine you to determine appropriate testing and whether you need to see a specialist.

23 July 2021