Is it useful to take my temperature regularly to detect COVID-19 in time?

Regularly taking your temperature can be a useful way to get an early indication of COVID-19, but it has limitations and should be combined with other precautions and symptom monitoring.

Fever is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Regular temperature monitoring can help detect early fever, which can indicate a possible infection. Especially in high-risk settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and large workplaces, temperature monitoring can help quickly identify potential cases and take steps to prevent further spread.

For people who have had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient or who are experiencing symptoms, regular temperature monitoring can help monitor the progression of symptoms and decide when to seek medical attention. Not everyone with COVID-19 develops a fever. Some infected people remain asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, meaning that temperature monitoring alone is not always effective in detecting all cases.

COVID-19 can cause a wide range of symptoms, including cough, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Therefore, checking temperature alone may not be enough to detect an infection in time. In addition to temperature control, it is important to take other preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, good hand hygiene, and avoiding crowded places.

Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center

Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-05-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024