Logan Reid
Faking a fever can be a way to get a day off work or school, or to avoid certain events. It is not easy to fake a fever, but it is possible. One way to do this is to fake a high temperature reading by running the thermometer under hot water or shaking a mercury thermometer to increase the reading. Other methods include sleeping under lots of blankets, eating spicy food, or putting onion slices in your armpit. However, it is important to keep in mind that faking an illness can become a serious mental health issue if it becomes a regular occurrence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Above 100.4°F (38.1°C) but not over 102°F (39°C) |
| Symptoms | Lack of energy, shivering, loss of appetite, sniffles, sneezing, cough, headache, stomachache |
| Techniques | Onion slices in armpits, hot water on thermometer, vigorous shaking of thermometer, hot water on face, blankets at night, eating spicy food, exercise |
| Reason | To get a day off work or school |
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What You'll Learn
Use an onion
Onions are a popular choice for people looking to fake a fever. They are believed to attract microorganisms, especially viruses, and placing them in your armpits is thought to attract these microorganisms near your body. Your body then supposedly supercharges itself to fight them off, increasing your body temperature and creating the illusion of a fever.
However, it is important to note that this method is not without its downsides. Firstly, onions are known to leave a strong odour, so you may end up smelling like onions. While you can use other scents to hide the onion smell, it may be challenging to completely mask it. Additionally, this method may not work for everyone, and there is a risk of feeling unwell due to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in onions.
If you still decide to use this method, here is a step-by-step guide:
- Peel a medium-sized onion.
- Cut the onion into 3-4 thin slices, ensuring the middle parts of the slices remain intact.
- Place the onion slices in your armpits for at least 3-4 hours. It is recommended to do this at night while you sleep, using blankets to increase your body temperature further.
- Remove all evidence of the onion slices before anyone else wakes up.
- Act sick by displaying symptoms such as a lack of energy, pretending to feel cold, pretending to have a headache or stomachache, and refusing food.
Remember, faking a fever is not advisable, and it is always better to be honest and face your responsibilities. Additionally, this method may not work in a hospital setting, as medical professionals may use other methods to detect a fever besides measuring body temperature.
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Fake a cough
To fake a cough as part of a wider attempt to convince someone you have a fever, it's important to be aware of the telltale signs that give away a fake cough. Real coughs often have a “productive” sound—that is, you can hear excess mucus leaving the airways. They are also extremely forceful (up to 50 miles per hour!) and occur more frequently than fake coughs. This is because, when you cough on purpose, you have to remember to keep coughing, but when you’re sick, you can’t help yourself.
To fake a cough, you can try to mimic these symptoms. Cough frequently and forcefully, and try to make the sound as "productive"-sounding as possible. You can also add other cold symptoms, such as sniffles and sneezes, to your act. Scatter some tissues around your bed or room to make it look more believable.
It's important to remember that faking an illness can have consequences, and it's usually best to be honest and direct about your needs.
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Complain of a headache
Faking a fever at a hospital may be difficult, as medical professionals have several ways to test for a fever, including the use of thermometers. However, if you are adamant about going through with this, here are some tips to help you complain of a headache convincingly:
Firstly, it is important to be subtle and realistic. Avoid overacting or exaggerating your symptoms, as this may arouse suspicion. Start by mentioning your headache a day before your hospital visit. This way, when you start showing more severe symptoms, it will be more believable. You can say something like, "I have a slight headache," and then, "My head feels like it is spinning." Refuse to eat or drink much, and go to bed early. During your hospital visit, hold your head and occasionally rub your temples or forehead, as if in pain.
Describe the pain as throbbing, and squint occasionally, explaining that you are sensitive to light. Migraines are a good option to fake, as they are not contagious, and doctors cannot easily test for them. You can also fake a mild upset stomach or diarrhea, which are common symptoms accompanying migraines. Act tired, and tell the doctors you are experiencing abdominal cramping, nausea, and watery stools.
It is important to remember that faking an illness is generally not advisable, and there may be consequences if you are caught. Honesty is always the best policy, and it is better to address the underlying reason for your actions rather than resorting to deception.
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Pretend you have no appetite
To convincingly pretend to have no appetite, there are several behaviours and symptoms you could adopt. Firstly, it is important to understand what a loss of appetite is and what causes it. A loss of appetite, or anorexia, occurs when you don't feel hungry or have no desire to eat food. This could be due to physical or emotional changes, an underlying health condition, or a side effect of medication.
Now, onto the acting. You could refuse to eat your favourite foods or meals, and express a lack of interest in food in general. You might also want to avoid eating with others, as social eating could increase your desire to eat. If you do eat with others, you could pick at your food and move it around your plate without eating it. You could also pretend to feel nauseous or unwell at the sight or smell of food, or claim that you have a "knot in your stomach".
To further sell the act, you could weigh yourself and express concern about rapid weight loss. You could also pretend to feel fatigued, weak, or irritable, which are all symptoms of a loss of appetite. Remember to keep your energy levels low and avoid any strenuous exercise, as this could increase your appetite and make you hungrier.
Finally, you could ask for electrolyte-containing drinks, as these are often used to replace lost electrolytes when someone is unwell and unable to eat a normal amount of food.
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Wear lots of clothes
If you want to fake a fever at a hospital, one strategy is to wear lots of clothes. This method can help raise your body temperature and make you appear physically warmer, which is a typical fever symptom.
To effectively pull this off, it's best to layer various garments to create a substantial amount of insulation. This could include wearing thermal underwear, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, jackets, thick socks, and even a hat, as heat escapes from the head. The goal is to don enough pieces to significantly increase your body heat, but not so many that it becomes obvious you're overdressed.
Additionally, you can augment this tactic by covering yourself with blankets, especially when someone is examining you. The extra layers will further elevate your temperature and simulate the warmth associated with a fever. If someone tries to remove the covers, complain that you're feeling chilly. This will reinforce the impression that you're feverish, as individuals with fevers often experience chills despite having elevated body temperatures.
It's also essential to act the part. Portray yourself as fatigued and lacking energy. Lean against your arm when seated, as if you can barely keep your head up. These gestures will bolster the perception that you're unwell.
Moreover, you can subtly incorporate shivering into your performance. You don't need to shake your entire body; even a trembling jaw can enhance the illusion of having a fever. This technique works because those with fevers sometimes shiver due to feeling cold, despite their elevated temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
Faking a fever at the hospital is not recommended as doctors can easily check your temperature. However, if you are still determined to do so, you can try the following methods:
- Running a thermometer under hot water to increase the temperature reading.
- Using onions: peel and cut an onion into slices, then place a slice in your armpit for at least 3-4 hours.
- Covering yourself with blankets while sleeping to increase body temperature.
- Eating spicy foods like green chillies, jalapenos, or peppers to increase body temperature.
It is important to only add 1 or 2 additional symptoms to make your act more believable. Some possible symptoms to fake include:
- Lack of appetite
- Cold symptoms such as sniffles, cough, or sneezing
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Vomiting
- Headache or stomachache
Yes, here are some additional tips:
- Start mentioning symptoms a day before you want to fake being sick so that your illness seems more believable.
- Avoid acting dramatically or adding too many irrelevant symptoms, as this may lead to others realizing you are faking or wanting to take you to the doctor.
- If you are caught faking a fever, it is best to admit that you were pretending to be sick rather than denying it.
