Okay so here’s the thing, I used to always think you only get a fever when you have the flu or like strep throat or something serious. But last winter I caught just a regular cold (at least I thought it was) and boom — woke up with a fever and chills and I was like, what the heck? Can a cold even do that?
Turns out, yes, you actually can get a fever from a cold. I didn’t even know that before but apparently it’s more normal than ppl think.
️ What’s a Fever Anyway?
So basically fever is when your body temp goes higher than it should. Normal temp is like 98.6°F (or whatever) and if it goes over 100.4°F I think that counts as a fever. I read that somewhere online lol. But honestly even when I hit like 99.8 I start feeling it — like hot, tired, foggy in the brain, you know?
Fever’s just your body trying to fight something off. It doesn’t always mean it’s something bad, it’s just your immune system doing its thing.
So, Cold + Fever? Is That a Thing?
Yeah, it totally is. People just don’t talk about it that much I guess.
I used to think if I had a fever it meant I had the flu or like COVID or something big. But a normal cold (like the classic runny nose, sore throat, sneezing cold) can give you a mild fever too. Not all the time, but sometimes yeah.
Mostly it’s like a low-grade fever. So not 103 or anything crazy. More like 99 or 100-ish. I had one that went up to 100.6 and I felt like garbage, but it was still “just a cold” according to urgent care
Kids Def Get Fever With Colds
My little cousin gets fevers every single time she catches a cold. She’ll be like totally fine in the morning and then boom, 101 temp and nose running like a faucet. Doctor always says it’s normal tho. Kids just react stronger I guess.
So yeah, if your kid has a fever with a cold it’s usually not a big deal, just watch it. But babies under 3 months with a fever? That’s different. You gotta call the doc ASAP.
How Do You Know It’s a Cold and Not Something Worse?
Honestly this part gets confusing sometimes cuz all the symptoms kinda overlap. Like sore throat, tiredness, body aches, they all show up in diff things. So it helps to just pay attention to how you feel overall.
Here’s kinda how I tell the difference (just my opinion tho):
| Symptom | Cold | Flu | COVID (from what I know) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | Sometimes (low) | Usually high | Can happen, not always |
| Sore throat | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Runny nose | Yes | Not really | Sometimes |
| Body aches | A little | Bad | Can be bad |
| Sudden onset | Nah, slow | Hits fast | Varies |
| Cough | Light to medium | Pretty bad | Dry cough usually |
So if your fever’s high and you feel like a truck hit you, might not just be a cold. Test or see a doc if you’re unsure.
What Should You Do If You Have Fever w/ Cold?
First off — don’t panic. Happens to a lot of people, even if no one talks about it.
Here’s what helps me when it hits:
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Drink a LOT of water (like more than you think you need)
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Rest. Like real rest. Not just laying in bed on your phone scrolling TikTok for 3 hours (guilty )
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Take Tylenol or ibuprofen if you’re feeling super crappy
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Warm drinks — tea, broth, etc. Something about them just helps
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Light blanket or hoodie, not too much. If you sweat too much it makes you feel worse
Also, don’t go around spreading it. I know colds aren’t a big deal for some ppl but still, stay home if you can. Be chill.
When To Worry
Okay so usually fever + cold is fine and goes away in a few days. BUT there are some times you should maybe get checked out, just to be safe:
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Fever over 102°F that lasts more than 2 days
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You’re feeling like dizzy or weak or just really not okay
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Breathing weird or chest hurts
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Rash shows up (kinda random but yeah it happens)
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You stop eating or drinking anything
And again — if it’s a baby with a fever, don’t wait, just call the doctor.
✋ Final Thoughts
So yeah. You can get a fever with a cold. It’s not just flu or covid or whatever. It’s not super common in adults but it’s not rare either. Doesn’t mean something serious is going on, just your body doing its thing to fight the virus.
Just take care of yourself. Drink water, chill out, binge a show and let your immune system handle it. But also don’t ignore your body if something feels off. Trust your gut.
⚠️ Disclaimer
okay so just so it’s clear — I’m NOT a doctor lol. I’m just sharing what I’ve gone thru and what I’ve read or heard from my own doctor. This isn’t medical advice or anything, just info and personal experience. If you’re sick or not sure what’s going on, go talk to someone qualified, not just the intern