What a fever means while you heal from a car crash
Insight from a trauma surgeon and an infectious disease specialist
You may get a fever while healing from a crash injury, an operation or another illness. The reading on the thermometer can’t tell you what’s causing it. A trauma surgeon wants to know which wounds, medical devices or organs were involved. An infectious disease specialist looks for a source of infection. That doctor also checks how sick you seem overall. [1, 2]
Know the fever cutoff in your discharge plan
Look at your written instructions for the temperature or symptoms that mean you should call. The cutoff can differ from one operation or health condition to another. If you don’t have instructions, ask your care team for guidance. Don’t hold out for a certain number if you’re clearly getting sicker. When you call, give your temperature, how you took it, when the fever started and whether fever medicine changed it. [1]
Help find the source without diagnosing yourself
Report redness, warmth, swelling, pus, foul smelling fluid or growing pain at a wound. Mention a catheter or surgical drain, a new cough, pain when you urinate or belly pain. A wound can be infected even if the change on the surface looks minor. A fever can also have a cause that has nothing to do with the crash. Your doctor needs to look at the whole pattern. [1, 2]
Spot someone who is getting dangerously sick
Sepsis is the body’s life threatening reaction to an infection. Watch for confusion, clammy skin, extreme pain or a fast heartbeat. Shivering, feeling very cold and shortness of breath can also be warning signs. Get emergency care for these symptoms, especially if an infection is suspected. If the person is getting worse, don’t wait for the clinic to answer a message. [2]
Keep a short log of your temperature, symptoms, wound changes and the medicines you take. Bring your discharge summary and a list of any devices still in place. If you were prescribed an antibiotic, ask how to take it. Also ask who to call if you can’t tolerate it. Don’t take leftover antibiotics or stop your current one without talking to the team that prescribed it. [1, 2]
- At what temperature should I call, given my injury or operation?
- Which possible sources of infection should I watch for at home?
- Who do I call after hours, and when should I go straight to the emergency room?
Find your fever instructions today
Sources and further reading
This piece offers general guidance from trauma surgery and infectious disease care. Use the fever cutoff in your own discharge papers. Possible sepsis or illness that worsens quickly needs emergency care.
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