Fever

People's normal body temperatures may vary and are affected by factors such as eating, exercise, sleeping, and what time of the day it is. Our body temperature is usually at its highest at around 6 p.m. and at its lowest at about 3 a.m. A high body temperature, or fever, is one of the ways our immune system attempts to combat an infection. Usually, the rise in body temperature helps the individual resolve an infection. However, sometimes it may rise too high, in which case, the fever can be serious and lead to complications. Doctors say that as long as the fever is mild, there is no need to bring it down - if the fever is not severe, it is probably helping to neutralize the bacterium or virus that is causing the infection. Medications to bring down a fever are called antipyretics. If the fever is causing undue discomfort, an antipyretic may be recommended. When a fever reaches or exceeds 38° Centigrade (100.4° Fahrenheit), it is no longer mild and should be checked every couple of hours. These temperatures refer to oral measurement, when the thermometer is put in the mouth. For normal armpit temperatures, the temperature measures lower than it actually is and the numbers are reduced by about 0.2–0.3° Centigrade. Symptoms When somebody has a fever, signs and symptoms are linked to what is known as sickness behavior, and may include: feeling cold when nobody else does shivering lack of appetite dehydration — preventable if the person drinks plenty of fluids depression hyperalgesia, or increased sensitivity to pain lethargy problems concentrating sleepiness sweating If the fever is high, there may also be extreme irritability, confusion, delirium, and seizures. Causes Fever can be caused by a number of factors: an infection, such as strep throat, flu, chickenpox, or pneumonia rheumatoid arthritis some medications overexposure of skin to sunlight, or sunburn heat stroke, resulting either by exposure to high temperatures or prolonged strenuous exercise dehydration silicosis, a type of lung disease caused by long-term exposure to silica dust amphetamine abuse alcohol withdrawal Types Severity A fever can be: low grade, from 100.5–102.1°F or 38.1–39°C moderate, from 102.2–104.0°F or 39.1–40°C high, from 104.1–106.0°F to or 40.1-41.1°C hyperpyrexia, above 106.0°F or 41.1°C The height of the temperature may help indicate what type of problem is causing it. Length of time A fever can be: acute if it lasts less than 7 days sub-acute, if it lasts up to 14 days chronic or persistent, if it persists for over 14 days