What is the Difference Between Fever and Hot Flashes

Fever and hot flashes are two different symptoms that can occur together. Both these symptoms are very common in menopause. However, fever can also occur on other occasions, such as in infections, cancers, autoimmune conditions, side effects of medications, etc.

The key difference between fever and hot flashes is their nature.  Fever is a brief rise in body temperature that is higher than the normal body temperature, while hot flashes are sudden flares of heat, sweating, and discomfort.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Fever 
3. What are Hot Flashes
4. Similarities – Fever and Hot Flashes
5. Fever vs Hot Flashes in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Fever vs Hot Flashes
7. FAQ – Fever and Hot Flashes

What is Fever?

Fever is also called a high temperature, hyperthermia, or pyrexia. It is the brief rise in body temperature that is higher than the normal body temperature, which usually falls within the range of 97 to 99 degrees F. The characteristics features involved in fever are chills or shivering, body aches, headaches, lethargy, irritability, loss of appetite, dehydration, red or flushed face in adults and earache, high pitch cries, loss of appetite, and extra thirst or low urine output in babies. Moreover, fever can be caused by infection, heat exhaustion, sunburn, conditions that result in inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, side effects of medications, vaccines, blood clots, autoimmune conditions like lupus and inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, hormone disorders like hyperthyroidism, illegal drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine, and teething in babies.

Fever can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and blood test. Furthermore, fever is treated through taking medications like acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, drinking clear fluids such as water, taking lukewarm baths, getting plenty of rest, keeping cool with lightweight clothing and bed coverings.

What are Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes are sudden flares of heat paired with sweating and flushed skin. It is a common and uncomfortable vasomotor symptom of menopause. Menopause happens in women in the late 40s to early 50s. Hot flashes normally have characteristic features like a brief sensation of heat throughout the body, becoming flush, starting to sweat, and later feeling chilled. Hot flashes can be triggered by hot weather, heat, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, and stress.

Hot flashes can be diagnosed through physical examination and hormonal testing. Furthermore, hot flashes are treated through hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal medications such as venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, escitalopram, gabapentin, clonidine and over-the-counter therapies like evening primrose oil, black cohosh, taking soy (plant estrogen) and vitamin E.

Similarities Between Fever and Hot Flashes

1. Fever and hot flashes are two different symptoms that can occur together.
2. Both these two symptoms are very common in menopause.
3. Both these can be diagnosed through physical examination.
4. They can be treated through over-the-counter medications.

Difference Between Fever and Hot Flashes

Definition

1. Fever is a brief rise in body temperature that exceeds the normal range, typically between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Hot flashes are sudden episodes of intense heat, often accompanied by sweating and flushed skin.

Causes

1. Fever can be caused by infections, heat exhaustion, sunburn, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, side effects of medications or vaccines, blood clots, autoimmune conditions like lupus and inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, hormonal disorders like hyperthyroidism, illegal drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine, and teething in babies.
2. Hot flashes are commonly associated with menopause and can be triggered by factors such as hot weather, heat, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, and stress.

Clinical Features

1. Fever may present with chills or shivering, body aches, headaches, lethargy, irritability, loss of appetite, dehydration, and a red or flushed face in adults. In babies, it may manifest as earache, high-pitched cries, loss of appetite, increased thirst, or low urine output.
2. Hot flashes may present with a brief sensation of heat throughout the body, often leading to flushing, sweating, and sometimes followed by a feeling of chill.

Treatment

1. Fever can be treated with medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen. Other treatments include drinking clear fluids such as water, taking lukewarm baths, getting plenty of rest, and staying cool with lightweight clothing and bed coverings.
2. Hot flashes can be managed with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal medications such as venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, escitalopram, gabapentin, and clonidine. Over-the-counter therapies such as evening primrose oil, black cohosh, soy (plant estrogen), and vitamin E can also help alleviate symptoms.

The following table summarizes the difference between fever and hot flashes.

Summary – Fever vs Hot Flashes

Fever and hot flashes are two different symptoms that can occur together in occasions such as menopause. However, fever can also occur on other occasions as well as such as in infections, cancers, autoimmune conditions, side effects of medications, hormone disorders, etc. Moreover, fever is a brief rise in body temperature that is higher than the normal body temperature while hot flashes are a sudden flare of heat, sweating and discomfort. This is the key difference between fever and hot flashes.

FAQ: Fever and Hot Flashes

1. How do people feel when they have a fever?

• A higher body temperature than normal, chills or shivering, body aches, headaches, lethargy, irritability, loss of appetite, dehydration, red or flushed face in adults, earache, high-pitched cries, loss of appetite, extra thirst, or low urine output in babies are common symptoms of fever.

2. How to get rid of a fever fast?

• Taking medications like acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, drinking clear fluids such as water, taking lukewarm baths, getting plenty of rest, and keeping cool with lightweight clothing and bed coverings are treatment options to get rid of fever.

3. What do hot flashes feel like?

• A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is intense over the face, neck, and chest. The skin might redden or flush as blushing. A hot flash can also cause sweating and a feeling of chill afterward.

4. What is the cause of hot flashes?

• Hot flashes are vasomotor symptoms of menopause, which are triggered by hot weather, heat, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, stress, or getting overheated by an activity.

5. How does it treat hot flashes?

• The most effective way to relieve the discomfort of hot flashes is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which involves taking estrogen. Other treatments include non-hormonal medications such as venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, escitalopram, gabapentin, and clonidine. Over-the-counter therapies such as evening primrose oil, black cohosh, soy (a source of plant estrogen), and vitamin E can also help alleviate symptoms.

Reference:

1. “Fever: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?” National Institute on Aging.

Image Credit:

1. “A Woman Holding a Thermometer” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Symptoms of menopause (vector)” By Mikael Häggström – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia

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