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Emergency Care · Beaumont, TX · Open 24/7

Fever or Infection Getting Worse? Emergency Care in Beaumont

Most fevers come from common viral illnesses and settle with rest and fluids. A fever becomes an emergency when it comes with confusion, trouble breathing, a stiff neck, spreading skin redness, or signs that the body is struggling to cope, which can mean sepsis. Eastex Emergency Room in Beaumont is open 24/7 for adults and children.

High feverSigns of sepsisSkin infectionsFever in babies

Fever warning signs that need emergency care

These can point to a serious infection or sepsis, the body's extreme response to infection. Sepsis is a medical emergency.

Confusion, slurred speech or very hard to wake
Trouble breathing or breathing very fast
Stiff neck with headache, or a rash that does not fade when pressed
Cold, clammy or mottled skin, or feeling like you might die
Fast heartbeat with low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting
Very little urine
Red skin that spreads quickly, is very painful, or blisters
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
Fever with a weak immune system, such as during chemotherapy

Call 911 if someone is confused, cannot stay awake, is struggling to breathe or looks very unwell. Say you are worried about sepsis.

Symptoms

Signs an infection may be getting worse

The number on the thermometer matters less than how the person looks and acts. Watch for changes, especially in babies, older adults and people with chronic illness.

Fever that keeps rising or will not come down
Shaking chills
Feeling much sicker than with a normal cold or flu
Breathing faster than usual
Heart racing at rest
Skin around a wound or bite becoming red, warm and swollen
Red streaks spreading from a wound
Pus or a growing painful lump under the skin
Not drinking or peeing much
In older adults: new confusion, weakness or falls

Possible Causes

Infections that can cause emergency fevers

Almost any infection can become serious. These are among the most common reasons people come in.

Chest infections

Pneumonia and severe flu or COVID-19 can cause fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Urinary and kidney infections

A bladder infection that spreads to the kidneys can cause fever, back pain and vomiting.

Skin infections

Cellulitis and abscesses cause warm, red, painful skin and can spread quickly.

Early sepsis is easy to miss: it can look like the flu at first. There is no single symptom that confirms it. That is why the combination of infection plus confusion, fast breathing, a racing heart or low urine output deserves emergency evaluation, even if you are not sure where the infection is.

Your Evaluation

How the ER evaluates fever and infection

The team checks how sick you are, looks for the source of infection, and starts treatment quickly when sepsis is possible.

Vital signs and triage. Temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and oxygen level.
History and exam. Recent illness, travel, wounds, medicines, vaccines and other health conditions.
Lab tests. Blood counts, blood chemistry and urine tests, and cultures when needed.
Imaging when needed. A chest X-ray for possible pneumonia, or ultrasound or CT to look for an abscess or other source.
Treatment. Fluids, fever medicine and, for bacterial infections, antibiotics. Abscesses may need to be drained.
A clear plan. Some people go home with medicine and follow-up. Others need hospital admission.

Testing available on site

Lab testing

Blood and urine tests run on site.

X-ray

Imaging for bones, chest and some foreign bodies.

Ultrasound

Imaging without radiation for many abdominal and soft-tissue questions.

IV fluids and medicine

Fluids and medicines through an IV when you need them.

The tests above are the diagnostic services Eastex ER lists on its own service pages. Not every patient needs every test. The emergency physician decides what to order based on your history and exam, and a normal result does not rule out every cause. Always follow your discharge instructions and the follow-up plan you are given.

When infection needs hospital care

Eastex ER is a freestanding emergency room without inpatient beds or an intensive care unit. People with sepsis, severe pneumonia, or infections that need surgery or IV antibiotics over several days are stabilized and transferred to a hospital.

If you go home, take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and finish the course.
Return or call 911 if you develop any of the warning signs above.

Caring for a fever at home

For a fever from a common illness without warning signs, rest and drinking fluids are the mainstays. Fever-reducing medicines can make you more comfortable; use them only as directed on the label or by your doctor, and be careful not to double up on products that contain the same medicine. Dress in light clothing and keep the room comfortable.

Check the temperature correctly

Use a digital thermometer and note the time of each reading. For babies, a rectal temperature is most accurate. Write readings down so you can share them with the care team.

Higher-risk groups

Babies younger than 3 months.
Older adults, who may have little or no fever even with a serious infection.
People receiving chemotherapy or with a weakened immune system.
People with heart, lung or kidney disease, or diabetes.
People who recently had surgery or have a medical device such as a catheter or port.

For these groups, contact a clinician early, and use emergency care for any of the warning signs.

Planning Your Visit

Before you come in

Bring a list of medicines, recent antibiotics, and the temperature readings you took at home, with times.

Find us

5550 Eastex Fwy, Suite C, Beaumont, TX 77708. Open 24 hours, every day. Call 409-800-1100.

What to bring

Photo ID, insurance card and a list of your medicines and allergies, if you can grab them safely.

Insurance

See which plans we work with and what to expect as a freestanding emergency room.

Billing

How emergency visits are billed, and who to contact with questions about a bill.

FAQs

Fever and infection questions

Short answers to questions people ask before they come in.

Not sure what to do?

If symptoms are severe or getting worse, call 911. For questions about coming in, call Eastex ER any time.

409-800-1100

What temperature is too high for an adult?

There is no single number that decides it. How you feel and act matters more. A high fever with confusion, trouble breathing, a stiff neck or a racing heart needs emergency care at any reading.

When does a baby with fever need the ER?

A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher should be seen right away. Older babies and children who are hard to wake, breathing hard, not drinking or have a rash that does not fade also need urgent care.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It can damage organs and can be life-threatening. Fast treatment improves outcomes.

Can urgent care treat a fever?

Yes, for many common illnesses, such as a cold, flu or mild sore throat in an otherwise healthy person. Use an emergency room for the warning signs on this page.

When is skin redness an emergency?

When it spreads quickly, comes with fever, is very painful, blisters, or turns dark. Draw a line around the edge with a pen so you can tell if it is spreading.

Keep Reading

Related guides

More from Eastex ER on deciding where to go and what to expect. Browse every guide in our health resources library.

GuideWhen a child's fever needs the ER DiagnosticsOn-site lab testing Emergency carePediatric emergency care

Fever with warning signs? Come in now, any time.

Eastex Emergency Room is open 24/7 at 5550 Eastex Fwy, Suite C, Beaumont, TX 77708. Walk in or call 409-800-1100. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Sources

Last updated: November 12, 2026

This page is general education and does not replace an exam by a clinician. If you think you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 911.