Fever vs Hot Flashes: Difference and Comparison

Our body experiences a lot of good as well as bad things in a lifetime. While some diseases might last for a long time, some ailments are indications of some other diseases and can be cured in several different ways. Fever and Hot flashes might sound similar, but they are way too different when dug more profound into biological science.

Key Takeaways

1. Fever is a symptom of illness caused by the body raising its temperature to fight infection.
2. Hot flashes are sudden sensations of heat, linked to hormonal fluctuations in women during menopause.
3. Fevers last longer than hot flashes and are accompanied by other symptoms like chills, aches, and fatigue.

Fever vs Hot Flashes

The difference between Fever and Hot Flashes is that Fever is an increment in the whole body temperature above 38.3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Hot Flashes are sudden waves of heat experienced in the upper region of the body, like the face, chest, or neck.

Fever refers to a temporary increment in the whole body’s temperature and not just some certain areas. When the temperature of the body, detected orally, goes above 38.3 degrees Celsius, it is called fever; in the worst case, it goes above 39.4 degrees Celsius and requires serious medical attention.

Hot Flashes are sudden episodes of heat that one experiences in the upper regions of the body, specifically the face, neck, and chest. There are more than a few reasons for hot flashes ranging from menopause in many women to even a side effect of certain medication, therapy, or treatment.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Fever	Hot Flashes
Definition	Temporary increment in temperature of the body.	Sudden warm feeling in upper body areas like face, chest or neck.
Symptoms	Oral temperature is above 38.3 degrees Celcius	Sudden episodes of intense heat are experienced in the upper part of the body.
Causes	It is caused due to infections or when foreign viruses/microorganisms enter the body.	These can happen as a side effect of any medication, allergy, or after menopause.
Duration	Fever can last till the body gets immune to the infection causing microorganism or virus.	A hot flash can last from 30 seconds to even ten minutes.
Treatment	After recognising the type or source of fever, medication is provided.	Hormone therapy is proven to be effective for hot flashes in women who face these as a consequence of menopause.

What is Fever?

Fever can be defined as a temporary increase in the temperature of a person’s body; that is, in simple words, fever is when someone gets heated up physically. It is expected that almost every living being with humans or animals may have experienced it at least once in their lifetime. Early in the body, the temperature rises above 38.3 degrees Celsius and lasts for longer than two to three hours; then, it is considered a fever. Severe fever can go up to 39.4 degrees Celsius, which is 103 Fahrenheit, and is considered very serious and requires quick medical attention.

Fevers are of various types, and also the reason behind the fever defines exactly what type it is. Sometimes, it might be mild and not very serious due to a viral infection, weather change, specific food allergy, or injury. Body temperature rises when the immune system struggles to fight the foreign microbes of foreign bodies that have entered the body and might be causing harm to the system. In order to alert the senses, the immune system raises the temperature so that it can be easier to detect that an individual needs attention. 

Once the reason behind the fever is detected, it becomes even easier to treat it. It’s a viral fever a standard dose of 3 days of antibiotics can cure it. There can also be severe reasons why a doctor might need a longer time and much more complex treatment to resolve the issue.

What are Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes are very different from fever. Hot flashes are like a sudden wave of heat experienced by the upper part of the body. These areas include the face, neck, and chest. They can make these regions appear redder than usual and make the person sweat too. 

Hot flashes have various reasons to occur. They are very likely to happen when they have reached the stage of menopause, which is women in the fourth or fifth decade of their life. Also, hot flashes can occur as a side effect of certain medicines after an operation or a treatment. These only last for about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Women going through menopause can experience them at various intervals for a period of 6 to 10 months. 

It is always better to visit a doctor to understand the real cause of hot flashes to be treated at the earliest. Hormone therapy is proven to be very useful for women experiencing hot flashes due to menopause. 

Main Differences Between Fever and Hot Flashes

1. Fever is a temporary increase in the temperature of the whole body, and a hot flash is a sudden wave of heat experienced in the upper region of the body.
2. Fever occurs when the body temperature rises above 38.3 degrees Celsius, whereas hot flashes around accidents in the upper parts of the body and are sudden and short-term.
3. Fever is caused due to the interior of microbial bodies, which cause infection or a viral disease. In contrast, hot flashes can happen due to many reasons ranging from menopause, allergy therapy, or side effects of medication.
4. Fever lasts till the body’s immune system can fight off the infection, and hard flash lasts from 30 Seconds to an interval of 10 minutes.
5. Fever can be treated after recognizing the root cause of it and described in medicines accordingly. If it is due to me no pause or stopping the medication whose side effect is causing them, flashes can be stopped by hormone therapy.

References

1. https://www.annfammed.org/content/2/5/391.short
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512297839746