Diarrhea, Age 12 and Older
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Do you have diarrhea and a fever?
See significance of fever if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Note: If you need information on how to take a temperature, see the topic Body Temperature.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have a fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher?
Yes Do you think you have a high fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have a fever of 102°F (39°C) or higher?
Yes Do you think that you have a moderate fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?
Yes Do you have a moderate fever with signs of a serious illness?
Yes Have you had a recurrent or ongoing fever without an obvious cause after traveling outside your own country in the past 6 weeks?
Yes Do you have diabetes?
Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Have you had a fever of 101°F (38°C) or higher for longer than 24 hours?
Yes Do you think that you have had a mild fever for longer than 24 hours but you have been unable to measure your temperature?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 28, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
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