Hello everyone,
Are you maintaining a healthy life? In this session, we will learn about fever.(pyrexia)
Let’s find out about a painful fever because your body temperature goes up.
What is fever?
Fever, also known as pyrexia, is a temporary increase in the body’s internal temperature above the normal range. It is a physiological response often triggered by the immune system in response to infections, inflammation, or other medical conditions. The normal body temperature varies slightly from person to person but is generally considered to be around 98.6°F (37°C) when measured orally.
So what on earth is the cause of fever?
Fever occurs when the body’s internal thermostat, located in the hypothalamus of the brain, is reset to a higher temperature in response to various factors. These factors can include:
- Infections: Bacterial, viral, fungal, or other types of infections can trigger the release of chemicals called pyrogens. Pyrogens signal the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature as a defense mechanism to help the immune system fight off the invading pathogens.
- Inflammatory Conditions: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune disorders can lead to fever as part of the body’s response to inflammation.
- Medications: Some medications, particularly those that affect the immune system or have an impact on the hypothalamus, can lead to fever as a side effect.
- Heat-Related Conditions: Overexposure to hot environments or heat stroke can also result in an elevated body temperature.
- Certain Cancers: Some cancers can cause fever due to the immune system’s response to tumor growth.
It’s a bit difficult, isn’t it?
To put it simply, Our body resists to protect itself from something, and in the process, the body temperature goes up.
What are the symptoms associated with fever?
Fever is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as chills, sweating, increased heart rate, and general feelings of discomfort.
- Chills : A cold feeling
- sweating : As your body temperature goes up, you can get a cold sweat.
- Increasing heart rate : Your heart is pounding and beating fast(The normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.)
- feelings of discomfort : Sometimes, it’s accompanied by muscle pain
So, What are the negative effects of fever?
Fever can have negative effects on our body if it becomes too high or persists for an extended period of time. Some potential adverse effects of fever include:
- Dehydration: Elevated body temperature can lead to increased sweating and fluid loss, which may result in dehydration if not properly managed by maintaining adequate fluid intake.
- Increased Heart Rate: As I mentioned above, Fever can cause the heart to beat faster than normal, which might put additional strain on the cardiovascular system, especially in individuals with preexisting heart conditions.
- Discomfort: Fever often brings discomfort, including chills, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue, which can interfere with daily activities and overall well-being.
- Delirium: In some cases, particularly in very high fevers, individuals may experience confusion, hallucinations, or delirium, which can be concerning and require medical attention.
- Seizures: High fever, particularly in young children, can sometimes lead to febrile seizures—brief episodes of involuntary shaking or convulsions.
- Worsening of Underlying Conditions: Fever can exacerbate certain preexisting health conditions, such as respiratory or neurological disorders, and make their management more challenging.
- Immune System Stress: While fever is often a sign of the immune system’s response to infection, extremely high fevers can actually stress the immune system and compromise its functioning.
Then What to do if you see fever symptoms.
- Monitor Temperature: Regularly check your body temperature using a reliable thermometer. This will help you track the severity of the fever and its progression.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, clear broths, and electrolyte-rich beverages, to prevent dehydration caused by increased sweating and higher body temperature.
- Rest: Get adequate rest to allow your body to focus its energy on fighting off the underlying cause of the fever.
- Dress Comfortably: Wear lightweight and breathable clothing to help regulate your body temperature. Use lightweight blankets if needed.
- Medication: Over-the-counter fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help lower fever and alleviate discomfort. Follow the dosing instructions and consult a healthcare professional if you have any concerns, especially for children or individuals with specific medical conditions.
- Sponge Bath: If the fever is particularly high and causing discomfort, you can use a sponge bath with lukewarm water to help bring the temperature down gradually.
- Seek Medical Care: You should seek medical attention if the fever is very high (above 104°F or 40°C), persists for more than a couple of days, or is accompanied by severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, severe headache, confusion, rash, or other concerning signs.
- Treat Underlying Cause: If the fever is a result of an infection or other underlying condition, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for treating the primary cause.
- Isolate Yourself: If you have a fever and symptoms of an infectious illness (such as a cold or flu), it’s a good practice to stay home and avoid close contact with others to prevent spreading the illness.
- Hygiene: Practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and using tissues or the inside of your elbow.
It’s important to monitor fever, especially in infants, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems, and seek medical care if the fever is persistent, severe, or associated with other concerning symptoms.
If your child shows fever symptoms, refer to the link below. Treatment by age is shown.
[Link : Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever]
If you’re in a hurry, you should take medicine to lower your fever. If you refer to the link below, you will get information about the medicine.
[Link : What medications can a person take to treat a fever at home?]
So far, we’ve learned about fever. Let’s deal with it well so that you or someone you love doesn’t suffer from excessive body temperature rise.
For our healthy life.