What’s causing my high temperature?

Symptoms:

You’ve got a high temperature (over 38°C), you’re shivery, you’ve got aches and pains all around your body, particularly in your back, a headache and a sore throat.

You have a very high temperature, nearly 39°C, a severe headache, your urine is brown, the whites of your eyes are turning yellow. You were recently in Nairobi, Kenya.

You have a fever mostly at night, rising to around 39°C but normal during the day, you’re short of breath and get palpitations. You have some lumps in your armpit. It could be:

Flu, caused by the flu virus. Your body increases its temperature in order to kill off the virus. The fever may last 3-4 days but your cough symptoms may go on for more than 10 days. Stop it:

Rest, stay in bed, take an antipyretic such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for your pain. When your fever drops you can go back to work. Consider having a flu jab.

This is an emergency. Call an ambulance immediately. Don’t eat or drink.