What is the best follow-up question for a patient reporting feeling feverish with a temperature of 98.9° F?

The most relevant follow-up question in this scenario focuses on whether the patient has taken any medication that could impact their temperature, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs. This is significant because these medications can lower fever and may influence the interpretation of the reported temperature. If the patient has recently taken these medications, it could explain their current febrile feeling despite having a temperature that is typically considered within a normal range.

Understanding the patient's recent usage of fever-reducing medication can help healthcare providers assess the situation more accurately and determine if further evaluation is needed. Knowing how these medications affect the patient's body temperature is crucial for understanding the patient's health status fully and guiding appropriate care.

While asking about the last check of their temperature, feeling warm or cold, or exposure to sick individuals are all valid questions, they do not provide information that can directly influence the understanding of the patient's current condition as effectively as knowing about any fever-reducing medications taken.