User:Mr. Ibrahem/Fever
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point.[1][6][7] There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using values between 37.2 and 38.3 °C (99.0 and 100.9 °F) in humans.[1][2][8] The increase in set point triggers increased muscle contractions and causes a feeling of cold.[3] This results in greater heat production and efforts to conserve heat.[4] When the set point temperature returns to normal, a person feels hot, becomes flushed, and may begin to sweat.[4] Rarely a fever may trigger a febrile seizure, with this being more common in young children.[5] Fevers do not typically go higher than 41 to 42 °C (105.8 to 107.6 °F).[7]
Fever | |
---|---|
Other names | Pyrexia, febrile response, febrile[1][2] |
An analog medical thermometer showing a temperature of 38.7 °C or 101.7 °F | |
Specialty | Infectious disease, pediatrics |
Symptoms | Initially: shivering, feeling cold[3] Later: flushed, sweating[4] |
Complications | Febrile seizure[5] |
Causes | Increase in the body's temperature set point[6][7] |
Diagnostic method | Temperature > between 37.2 and 38.3 °C (99.0 and 100.9 °F)[1][2][8] |
Differential diagnosis | Hyperthermia[2] |
Treatment | Based on underlying cause, not required for fever itself[3][9] |
Medication | Ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen)[9][10] |
Frequency | Common[3][11] |
A fever can be caused by many medical conditions ranging from non-serious to life-threatening.[12] This includes viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections—such as influenza, the common cold, meningitis, urinary tract infections, appendicitis, COVID-19, and malaria.[12][13] Non-infectious causes include vasculitis, deep vein thrombosis, connective tissue disease, side effects of medication, and cancer.[12][14] It differs from hyperthermia, in that hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature over the temperature set point, due to either too much heat production or not enough heat loss.[2]
Treatment to reduce fever is generally not required.[3][9] Treatment of associated pain and inflammation, however, may be useful and help a person rest.[9] Medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen) may help with this as well as lower temperature.[9][10] Measures such as putting a cool damp cloth on the forehead and having a slightly warm bath are not useful and may simply make a person more uncomfortable.[9] Children younger than three months require medical attention, as might people with serious medical problems such as a compromised immune system or people with other symptoms.[15] Hyperthermia does require treatment.[3]
Fever is one of the most common medical signs.[3] It is part of about 30% of healthcare visits by children[3] and occurs in up to 75% of adults who are seriously sick.[11] While fever evolved as a defense mechanism, treating fever does not appear to worsen outcomes.[16][17] Fever is often viewed with greater concern by parents and healthcare professionals than is usually deserved, a phenomenon known as fever phobia.[3][18]