Fever is also referred to as pyrexia. Fever is a Latin word earlier termed as feaver which means ” to warm or heat “. It is an elevation of the normal body temperature of 37oC. Fever normally goes away after few days on its own. It is not a disease. it is a response to the body’s immune system against any infection caused by bacteria and viruses.
The normal body temperature of a human being at rest is 37oC and it fluctuates between 36.1oC to 37.8oC depending upon the metabolism rate of the body, time of the day, and during intense exercise.
You can easily check whether you are suffering from fever or not with the help of thermometers available in the market. You will have to put the thermometer inside your mouth or under your arms and wait for two to three minutes and then remove the thermometer. It will show your body temperature on the screen and you can get to know whether you are suffering from fever or not. Typically fever for an infant is at 38o C, for children at 37.5oC and 37.2oC- 37.5oC for adults.
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Causes
It usually occurs when the hypothalamus, a part of the brain, elevates the normal body temperature of the body. During this process, you may feel cold and start shivering to generate more heat.
When an infection occurs then fever-inducing agents like pyrogens are released by the body’s immune system that triggers the setting of a thermostat that maintains the body’s internal temperature.
Different diseases can also induce fever
- Infections like pneumonia and flu
- Autoimmune diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Blood clotting
- Severe exposure to the sun
- Food poisoning
- Intensive exercise
Read More: Sinus Infection: Causes, Types, Symptoms, & Treatment
Symptoms
A person may suffer from various symptoms depending upon the cause of this diseases, some common symptoms include
Treatment
Depending upon the severity of the fever you can treat fever at home or by using some over-the-counter medicines.
If you are having a low-grade fever(temperature between 37.5oC to 37.8oC) you need to take a rest, drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, dap your forehead with a cloth soaked in water to bring down your body temperature.
If you are suffering from high-grade fever (temperature above 38.2oC) and it lasts for more than one day then you need to visit a doctor. The doctor will examine the cause of fever and measure the temperature and prescribe you medication accordingly. Mostly they will give some antibiotics and NSAIDs drugs.
Complications
Fever is a sign of killing the infection-causing agents. It can be treated without any difficulties.
Children under 12 to 18 months may suffer from seizures which generally occurs when the body’s temperature rises quickly
If your child suffers from seizures then
- Lay your child on the ground with his chest facing up
- Loosen the clothes your child is wearing
- Hold your, child, tightly
- Don’t place anything in your child’s mouth
Other life-threatening complications can also occur if the fever is not treated like brain damage, Dehydration due to vomiting, and physical disability.
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Prevention
As fever is common in this covid19 times you can prevent fever by reducing exposure to infections and following regular handwashing habits.
- Wash your hands with soap regularly for at least 20 seconds
- Don’t touch your face, nose, eyes, and mouth repeatedly
- Cover your mouth and nose with elbows when sneezing or coughing.
- Carry a sanitizer every time
- Avoid close contact with unwell people.
Disclaimer: AlDoctor doesn’t endorse or take any guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of information provided under this article and these are the views strictly of the writer. Readers are supposed to consult with their respective doctors before taking any medicine.