Fever treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

In most cases, a Maple doctor can diagnose you or your child's fever online by asking about symptoms, conditions, medication consumed, and/or if you or your child recently travelled to an area that poses a high infection.

Once you describe your symptoms and answer the doctor's questions, they may then examine you or your child over video. In many cases, they will be able to diagnose and prescribe appropriate medication. 

If the doctor suspects you or your child have a more serious problem, they may suggest you go to a clinic for a thorough in-person physical examination.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or we’ll deliver it right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

A fever is defined as a temporary increase in your body temperature, to levels greater than 38 degrees celsius or 100 degrees fahrenheit. Fevers are most often due to an infection, and are part of your body’s natural defence systems kicking in.

A fever is triggered when the hypothalamus (the section of the brain that controls body temperature) increase the body’s temperature. Infections (like a cold or sinus infection) typically induce a fever, but fevers can also be caused by conditions other than infections.

Common causes of a fever include:

• Bacterial infections
• Cancer
• Conditions that cause inflammation
• Ear, lung, skin, throat, bladder, or kidney infections
• Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach or intestines resulting from a bacterial or viral infection)
• Heat exhaustion
• Side effects of drugs
• Vaccines
• Viruses

Less common causes of a fever include:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Blood clots
• Hormone disorders
• Illegal drugs like amphetamines and cocaine

• Chills and shivering
• Dehydration
• General weakness
• Headache
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Sweating

Treatment for a fever depends on the cause. Consult with a physician on the best treatment option for you.

Common treatment options include taking over the counter drugs such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol),  Aleve - Naproxen or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.).

Fevers in adults usually go away on their own, and don’t typically require urgent medical attention.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your body temperature is 39°C or above
• You have a severe headache
• You have unusual sensitivity to bright light
• You have a stiff neck or pain when you tuck your chin to your chest
• You experience mental confusion
• You are persistently vomiting
• You have chest pain or difficulty breathing
• You get abdominal pain or pain when urinating
• You experience convulsions or seizures

Children between the age of 6 months and 5 years are at risk for experiencing seizures as a result of a fever. You should see a doctor right away if your child has a fever above 39°C or if your child experiences any seizure activity with their fever.

Fever is an emergency in infants under the age of three months. For this age group, you should proceed to the ER for any temperature above 38°C. 

Get in touch with a doctor if:

• Your child is younger than age 2 and has a fever that lasts longer than a day
• Your child is older than 2 and has a fever lasting longer than 3 days

You should also seek medical attention if your child's fever is accompanied by:

• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Ear Pain
• Fussiness
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite
• Sore throat
• Vomiting

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $85/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: Access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.