Fever Cause Types Symptom Treatment

Fever is also referred as hyperthermia and pyrexia, Fever is defined as an abnormally elevated temperature of the body for more than 37 degrees celsius. Short period of high temperature is output of your body's metabolic activities against bacteria and microorganisms. Clinically, if the patient fever goes up to 41-degree Celcius i.e. very high fever referred to as hyperpyrexia.

Fever can be fatal if it occurs due to secondary disease conditions. Small children can suffer from crackles and seizure attacks. Ex. Influenza, malaria, common cold, meningitis, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, malaria, etc.

Fever characterized by higher temperature of the body, weakness, malaise, headache. Sevier headache may result in semiconsciousness and convulsions.

Treatment of fever is aim to treat underlying disorder. Primary fever is subside with over the counter medicine. Fever due to disease condition are treated with medicine like antibiotics, paracetamol, aspirin etc.

Fever causes 

A slight increase in temperature occur due to metabolic and chemical changes occur inside body tissues and cells. 

Other causes of fever, 

• Infection 

Any infection such as bacterial, viral stimulates immune response such as inflammation, swelling. It in turn increases metabolism causing an increase body temperature. 

• Trauma or injury 

Patients suffer from severe injury or trauma lead to loss much fluid and blood from the body. It lead to increased temperature due to correction in homeostasis, wound healing process and tissue damage. 

• Secondary disease condition in which fever occur are tuberculosis, cellulitis, pneumonia, jaundice, urinary tract infection, etc.

• Medicine overdose 

During medication overdose, the temperature rises very rapidly due to the higher metabolism of the drug in the body. Some drugs act on the infection inducing rise of temperature. 

• Internal bleeding 

• Immunization

• Food poisoning 

Types 

There are 6 types of fever,

• Septic fever 

Septic fever is define as fever occurs due to infection in body. It can rises up to 39 degree celsius, following normal/subnormal temperature. It fluctuates between 38-39 deree celsius.

• Hyperpyrexia (Hyperthermia)

Hyperpyrexia is referred as elevated body temperature for more than 41 degrees celsius. It is different than normal fever and can be fetal. Common causes of hyperpyrexia are internal hemorrhage, medication overdose, due to chronic illness.

• Continuous fever (Persistent Fever)

Fever which does not drop more than 1-degree celsius for 3 to 4 days is refer as continuous fever. It is seen in respiratory infections as tuberculosis, typhoid fever etc.

• Remittent fever

Remittent fever is also called as interval fever. In this fever occurs and present in a day, slightly at night and reoccur in the next morning is called as remittent fever. It is seen in bronchopneumonia.

• Intermittent fever

Intermittent fever is characterized by a sudden rise and fall in temperature. For example, a person experiences high fever followed by normal temperature, it is seen in malaria, pyemia, septicemia, etc.

• Irregular fever

Irregular fever is undefinable and irregular in nature.

Symptoms 

Fever that remains for 2 to 3 days is called acute fever. Chronic fever sustained for a week causing underlying causes. Acute fever causes general weakness, headache, giddiness, and vertigo. Patient experiences dehydration, sweats, and cold.

Chronic fever is seen in secondary disorders, symptoms vary as per the severity of the condition. In fever person may experience following symptoms,

• Dehydration 

Dehydration is the loss of water from the body. In fever, body temperature causes water to excrete out. During fever, high metabolic activities consume more water causing dehydration.

• Shivering 

Shivering occurs in fever with a cold. Person pain receptivity increases which causes restlessness, anxiety to patients. It is seen in high fever due to jaundice, tuberculosis, etc.

• Severe headache 

High fever causes tachycardia, anxiety to patients which induces high blood pressure stimulating brain muscle pain resulting in headaches.

• Fatigue 

• Convulsions 

Convulsions occur commonly in children, in continuous fever. Patient suffered from muscle ache, involuntary muscle activity, and increased sensorimotor activity.

• Increased pain sensitivity 

• Muscle pain 

• Body ache 

• Chills 

Diagnosis 

Fever is diagnosed by elevated temperature and sign and symptom of patient. To diagnose underlying cause of fever, CBC test, X-ray and MRI is done. It check infection, normal blood count to predict infection.

Treatment 

Fever does not require treatment unless it is induced by secondary disorders. Fever is manage by over the counter medicine such as aspirin, antipyretic medicines.


Medical therapy 

• Antibiotic drug 

Antibiotic drug decrease bacterial and viral infection from the body. It is prescribed in pneumonia, tb and other bacterial infection.

• Antipyretic drug:- Tylenol, aspirin, given to reduce the fever. 

Antipyretic drugs are given to decrease the temperature of the body. They are Tylenol, aspirin use commonly to treat fever.

• Antiviral medicine:- 

Antiviral medicine prevents viral infection in the body.

• Iron and folic acid supplements 

Iron and folic acid supplements are commonly given drugs in fever. It gives to increases body strength and decreases iron and folic acid from the body. 

Non-pharmacological treatment:-

• Cold packs 

Cold packs are consist of freezing substances that apply on the forehead which helps to decrease fever.

• Hydration 

During fever, water is massively utilized by the body, causing severe dehydration. Drinking lots of water from juices or other sources help to lower fever.

• Personal hygiene

Personal hygiene is essential in reducing fever ex. bathing, hand wash, maintain personal hygiene.


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