Have you ever had that experience of getting chilled down the spine, the skin being as hot as it is and the feeling that everything is not okay? It is your body with its flashing fight signal. One of the most common and to some extent, misunderstood signs given by your body is fever, which is actually the alert system of your body that is in battle against an intruder. It is time to understand more about this defense mechanism of nature and what it is.
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What is Fever?
A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature. It is not a disease, but a symptom, a clear indication that your body is working on its defense mechanisms. One of the brain parts that makes your body a thermostat is referred to as the hypothalamus. It keeps your body temperature at a comfortable average of 98.6 °F (37 °C).
Once your immune system detects an invader e.g. a virus or bacteria, it launches some chemicals. These chemicals give an order to your hypothalamus to increase the thermostat. This intentional increase in your fever temperature makes it less welcoming for the bacteria and allows your immune cells to work more effectively. This is a healthy response for most infections.
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Types of Fever
Fevers are not made equal. The pattern can help to provide a clue but more significant are the temperature of the fever and other signs. Generally, fevers may be classified into patterns as well as causes:
- Low-grade fever: This is a situation where you have an upward rise in temperature of only a small margin such as 99.5 to 100.3 °F. It normally occurs in cases of minor colds or viruses. Your body combats it by itself, and you may not feel very bad about it, either. No big worry here.
- High fever: This one overheats, more than 103 °F, even 104 °F. It may get you quite out of shape and weary. Be careful with it as it may put strain on your body. Doctors indicate that one should not disregard it when it remains high.
- Recurrent or periodical fever: It comes and goes such as one day you are on fire, the following day you feel fine. Young children below 5 years old get them frequently due to repetitive bugs or special body patterns. It is irritating and critical.
- Constant fever: Remains sleeping on days. Feels like it has made you sick all along. The same could mean a larger infection is underway.
- Periodic fever: Periodically rises and falls. Spikes high, then drops. Usual with certain diseases, your body fights in turns.
- Febrile seizures: They occur in young children, 6 months-5 years, when the fever rises rapidly. They tremble slightly, yet it will pass within a short time and will not damage the brain in the long-term. Frightening to the parents but 2-4 percent of children have it.
- Heat-related fever: Heat-induced, not germ-induced, too much sun or heat stroke. The good fighting boost that fevers normally provide to your body is lacking. Cool down quickly.
Fever Symptoms
A fever is not what is depicted on a thermometer. The action of raising and maintaining a high body temperature generates a system of sensations. Fever symptoms include:
- Feeling Cold and Shivery: You are so cold at the start when you have a fever. Your body trembles and shivers to get more heat. It is as though your entire body were trying to be warmed by the blankets.
- Getting Hot and Sweaty: Once the chills are over, you become very, very hot. The skin on your body gets hot, flushed, and greasy. Your body is busting to cool you down inside.
- Hurting All Over: Your head does a headache, and your muscles ache as if after a good game. It all hurts, and you are tired of lying down.
- Super Tired: Fever causes one to feel weak and sleepy. You do not want to move and do something fun. It’s hard to even get out of bed.
- No Hunger: You grow clumsy in your appetite. Food is disgusting, and you miss food. Your body says, Not now, I have got a fight on.
- Thirsty and Dry: You are so thirsty when you are sweating. Your mouth is dry, and you should drink water constantly so as not to dehydrate.
- Extra Fussy for Kids: Kids cry more, will not play, and are sad. Babies are hot to the touch and may not be good eaters. They appear to be drowsy or out of character.
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Fever Causes
Infections are the cause of most cases of fever. It is the reaction of your immune system to the invading organism that makes your hypothalamus turn up the thermostat. The fever causes are:
- Viral Infections: Most fevers begin with infections that your body fights off. Viruses such as the flu, common cold, or COVID-19 are very common. They cause your body to raise its temperature to prevent the virus from multiplying. Bacterial infections such as sore throat viruses, bladder infections, or lung infections cause the same effect. Your body’s brain commands it to increase the temperature to prevent the bacteria from winning easily.
- Heat and Other Reasons for Traits: Not all fevers are caused by infections. Too much heat from the sun, too much heat, or heatstroke can also cause a fever. Too much sun exposure or too much exercise in the heat can raise your temperature without an infection.
- Body Problems or Medications: Sometimes, your body’s problems can cause a fever. Arthritis, cancers, or even medications and vaccinations can cause a fever. Some rare infections such as malaria cause fevers that come and go. Allergies may cause you to sneeze, but they do not cause a fever.
Fever Treatment
Reducing the body temperature to normal is not necessarily the goal of the fever treatment process since fever is fighting the infection itself.
- Hydrate: Take an abundance of water or clear fluids at any given time. You are sweating a lot since you have a fever, and your body loses fluids easily, leaving you thirsty. This will avoid drying out of your body and will also assist in fighting the infection in your body. Do not take coffee or soda; it will do you no good.
- Unwind and Rest: It is just time to relax and sleep as much as you can. Your body needs some energy in order to combat the infection. Do not do anything strenuous or make a run about. A nap will put out your fever fast.
- Get Down Slowly: Put on light clothing and make sure that the room is not hot. Take a bath in warm and not cold water, which is very good and makes your body temperature drop slowly. A cold bath will shiver you, and your temperature will shoot up once again.
- Medicines: Take such medicines as Tylenol or ibuprofen when it is painful or when you have a high-temperature fever. These will help to relax you without making your fever come down too fast. Never leave the packaging without examining the amount of packaging to be used depending on your age and weight. Aspirin can be rather hazardous in children.
- Fixes That Have Been Skipped: Packing on heavy blankets. This will trap heat. And antibiotics are good only for certain bacterial fevers but not viruses like the flu. Let your body take care of it.
- Eat Light: On the run Eat light: When you are hungry, eat light foods like soup or fruit. Do not eat when you do not feel like eating heavy meals. This will simplify the task of fighting fever.
When to Seek a Doctor for a Fever
- Infants Below 3 months: When the temperature of your baby reaches 100.4 °F or more (rectal method), contact the doctor at once. Even a minor fever may be fatal to babies.
- Infants 3-6 Months: See a doctor when the fever rises beyond 102 °F, or if the baby appears to be very fussy, drowsy, or not able to breastfeed. Don’t delay.
- Red Flags on any Child: Fever that lasts longer than 2-3 days, higher than 104 °F, or fails to respond to treatment. Further, emergency treatment is required in case of rash, stiffening of the neck, difficulty breathing, absence of wet diapers or tears, as well as shaking.
- In Grown-Ups: See a doctor in case of a fever, longer than 3 days, in case of a high fever (over 103 °f) or have a headache so bad, or a sore chest, or vomiting very often, or pain urinating.
- Emergency Situations: Left in a hot automobile, chronic illness, or shaking longer than 5 minutes, the emergency room should be used immediately after international travel. There is no use taking chances.
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