At what temperature is a fever considered dangerous. How high can a fever go before it becomes a serious health concern. What are the signs that indicate a fever requires immediate medical attention. When should you worry about a child’s fever versus an adult’s fever.

The Nature and Causes of Fever

Fever is not an illness itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying health condition. It occurs when the body’s temperature rises above the normal range as part of the immune system’s response to fight off infections or other threats. Understanding the nature of fever can help us better manage it and recognize when it becomes potentially dangerous.

What causes fever? The body typically develops a fever in response to:

• Viral infections (e.g., flu, common cold)
• Bacterial infections (e.g., strep throat, urinary tract infections)
• Inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
• Heat-related illnesses
• Certain medications or immunizations

Is fever always a cause for concern? Not necessarily. In fact, a low-grade fever can be beneficial as it indicates that your immune system is actively fighting an infection. However, it’s crucial to monitor fever closely, especially in children and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Normal Body Temperature and Fever Thresholds

To understand when a fever becomes dangerous, we must first establish what constitutes a normal body temperature and at what point it’s considered a fever.

What is the average body temperature? The widely accepted normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). However, it’s important to note that body temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, typically being lower in the morning and higher in the evening.

At what temperature is it considered a fever?

• Adults: A temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) is generally considered a fever
• Children: Any temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever
• Infants under 3 months: A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher requires immediate medical attention

Fever Severity Levels and Their Implications

Understanding the different levels of fever severity can help in determining the appropriate course of action:

1. Low-grade fever: 100.4°F to 102.2°F (38°C to 39°C)
2. Moderate-grade fever: 102.2°F to 104°F (39°C to 40°C)
3. High-grade fever: Above 104°F (40°C)

Does the severity of a fever always correlate with the seriousness of the underlying condition? Not necessarily. Some minor viral infections can cause high fevers, while more serious conditions might only result in low-grade fevers. It’s essential to consider other symptoms and the overall health of the individual when assessing the significance of a fever.

Dangerous Fever Thresholds: When to Be Concerned

While most fevers are not immediately dangerous, there are certain thresholds and accompanying symptoms that warrant prompt medical attention.

At what temperature does a fever become potentially dangerous?

• Adults: A persistent fever of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher
• Children: A fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher, or any fever in infants under 3 months
• Anyone: A fever of 106°F (41.1°C) or higher can lead to serious complications and requires emergency care

What are the signs that a fever requires immediate medical attention?

• Severe headache or neck stiffness
• Confusion or altered mental state
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Persistent vomiting or severe abdominal pain
• Seizures or convulsions
• Unusual skin rashes, especially if they don’t blanch when pressed

Fever in Children: Special Considerations

Children, especially infants and toddlers, require extra vigilance when it comes to fevers. Their immune systems are still developing, and they may be more susceptible to rapid temperature changes.

How should you respond to fever in children based on their age?

• 0-3 months: Any fever (100.4°F or 38°C and above) requires immediate medical attention
• 3-6 months: Fever of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher warrants a call to the doctor
• 6-24 months: Fever lasting more than 24 hours should be evaluated by a healthcare provider
• 2 years and older: Fever lasting more than 3 days or accompanied by concerning symptoms needs medical evaluation

Are febrile seizures in children dangerous? While frightening for parents, most febrile seizures are not harmful in the long term. However, they should always be reported to a healthcare provider, and if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, emergency services should be called.

Managing Fever at Home: Safe and Effective Methods

For mild to moderate fevers, home care can often be sufficient. Here are some safe and effective methods to manage fever:

1. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost through sweating
2. Rest: Allow the body to conserve energy for fighting the infection
3. Keep cool: Use light clothing and bedding, and maintain a comfortable room temperature
4. Use over-the-counter fever reducers: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help lower fever and relieve discomfort
5. Apply cool compresses: Place a damp, lukewarm cloth on the forehead or wrists

Is it always necessary to treat a fever? Not always. Low-grade fevers often don’t require treatment unless they’re causing significant discomfort. The fever itself can help the body fight off the infection more effectively.

Caution with Fever-Reducing Medications

While over-the-counter medications can be helpful in managing fever, it’s crucial to use them correctly:

• Always follow the dosage instructions on the package or as directed by a healthcare provider
• Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with fever due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome
• Be cautious about combining different medications, as some may contain the same active ingredients

When to Seek Medical Help for a Fever

While many fevers can be managed at home, certain situations require professional medical evaluation. Knowing when to seek help can prevent potential complications and ensure proper treatment.

Under what circumstances should you consult a healthcare provider for a fever?

• Fever persists for more than three days
• Fever is accompanied by severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe headache
• There are signs of dehydration, such as decreased urination or dry mouth
• The person has a weakened immune system or chronic medical condition
• There’s a recent history of travel to an area with endemic infectious diseases
• The fever follows a tick bite or other potential exposure to infectious agents

How can you prepare for a medical consultation regarding fever? Keep a record of the fever pattern, including highest temperatures and times of day, as well as any other symptoms or recent medical history that might be relevant.

Fever Myths and Misconceptions

There are many myths surrounding fever that can lead to unnecessary worry or inappropriate treatment. Let’s address some common misconceptions:

Are these common beliefs about fever true or false?

• Myth: Fever is always harmful and must be treated aggressively.
  Truth: Mild to moderate fevers are often beneficial in fighting infections.
• Myth: The height of a fever always indicates the severity of the illness.
  Truth: The severity of symptoms is often more indicative than the temperature alone.
• Myth: Fevers can cause brain damage.
  Truth: Fevers from infection don’t typically cause brain damage. Only extremely high fevers (above 107.6°F or 42°C) pose this risk.
• Myth: Bundling up helps “sweat out” a fever.
  Truth: This can actually increase body temperature and cause discomfort.

Why is it important to dispel these myths? Understanding the true nature of fever can help prevent unnecessary panic and ensure appropriate care, avoiding both under-treatment and over-treatment of fevers.

Special Considerations for Fever in Different Populations

Certain groups may require special attention when it comes to fever management:

Elderly Individuals

How does fever present differently in older adults? Elderly individuals may not develop fever as readily as younger adults. Even a slight increase in temperature can indicate a significant infection in this population.

Immunocompromised Patients

Why are fevers particularly concerning in immunocompromised individuals? Those with weakened immune systems may not be able to mount an effective fever response, making any elevation in temperature a potential cause for concern.

Pregnant Women

What are the risks of fever during pregnancy? High fevers, especially in the first trimester, can potentially lead to birth defects. Pregnant women should consult their healthcare provider for safe fever management strategies.

The Role of Technology in Fever Monitoring

Advancements in technology have introduced new tools for monitoring and managing fever:

What are some modern methods for tracking fever?

• Smart thermometers that connect to smartphone apps for easy tracking and sharing of data
• Wearable devices that continuously monitor body temperature
• Infrared thermometers for quick, non-contact temperature readings

How can these technologies benefit fever management? They allow for more accurate and consistent temperature monitoring, easier sharing of information with healthcare providers, and early detection of concerning patterns.

Fever as a Diagnostic Tool

While fever can be concerning, it’s also an important diagnostic indicator for healthcare providers:

How do different fever patterns help in diagnosing illnesses?

• Continuous fever: Temperature remains above normal throughout the day and doesn’t fluctuate more than 1°C. This can indicate lobar pneumonia.
• Intermittent fever: Temperature elevates for several hours of the day but returns to normal. This pattern is common in malaria.
• Remittent fever: Temperature fluctuates but doesn’t return to normal. This can be seen in infective endocarditis.
• Relapsing fever: Periods of fever alternate with fever-free periods. This pattern is associated with certain tick-borne diseases.

Why is understanding fever patterns important? Recognizing these patterns can help healthcare providers narrow down potential causes and direct further diagnostic efforts.

Global Perspectives on Fever Management

Fever management practices can vary across different cultures and healthcare systems:

How do fever management approaches differ around the world?

• In some cultures, fever is seen as a healing process and may be allowed to run its course without intervention.
• Certain traditional medicine systems use specific herbs or practices to manage fever.
• Access to healthcare and over-the-counter medications can influence how fevers are managed in different regions.

What can we learn from these diverse approaches? Understanding global perspectives can broaden our view of fever management and potentially offer new insights into effective practices.

The Future of Fever Research and Management

Ongoing research continues to deepen our understanding of fever and its management:

What are some areas of current research in fever management?

• Development of more targeted fever-reducing medications with fewer side effects
• Investigation into the potential benefits of allowing certain fevers to run their course
• Exploration of the role of fever in enhancing immune response to vaccines
• Research into fever’s potential therapeutic effects in certain conditions, such as some cancers

How might these research directions impact future fever management? As our understanding grows, we may see more personalized approaches to fever treatment, balancing the benefits of the body’s natural response with the need to prevent dangerous temperature elevations.

When Fevers Get Dangerous | iCare

Having a fever doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to visit a doctor. In fact, a fever can be a good sign because it shows that your body is fighting an illness or infection. A low-grade fever is an essential part of the immune response, and you will often feel better in a few days.

Why Does Fever Occur?

A fever isn’t an illness – it is a symptom of another health condition. Usually, the body develops a fever in response to an infection that is occurring. The illness or disease is detected, then the immune system kicks into gear to fight the virus or bacteria. This response stimulates the body’s defenses, sending out the white blood cells that are needed for protection. Fever can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Flu
• Common cold
• Heatstroke
• Ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infection
• Internal infection
• Skin infection
• Bronchitis
• Urinary tract infections
• Blood clots
• Appendicitis
• Autoimmune diseases
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Cancer
• Hormone disorders
• Illegal drugs

Sometimes, fever is a temporary response to a specific cause. For example, young children often have a fever when teething or for a day or two after immunizations.

How Body Temperature Works

The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees F, but it is normal for the temperature to range between 97.7 degrees F and 99.5 degrees F throughout the day. For example, it is common for the body temperature to be higher in the evening compared to the morning. If the temperature goes above 99.5 degrees F, then it is considered a fever in both adults and children.

The body has built-in systems to maintain normal body temperature. Several organs affect temperature regulation, including the skin, brain, muscles, and blood vessels. If the body needs to cool down, then a few responses might occur:

• Sweat production increases to cool the skin
• Blood is moved closer to, or away from, the surface of the skin
• You feel the urge to move to a cooler environment
• Water in the body is retained or released through the sweat glands and urinary system

A fever is not the only factor that can increase body temperature. Heavy clothing, physical exertion, strong emotions, high heat and humidity, menstruation, and certain medications can increase body temperature. When you are taking a person’s temperature, check to ensure these other factors aren’t influencing the thermometer reading. For example, if a child has been running around, have them sit still for 20 minutes before using the thermometer to ensure you are getting an accurate reading.

Tips for Lowering a Fever

Just because a person has a mild fever, doesn’t mean that you need to be proactive in lowering the fever. Often, the best solution is to let the fever run its course by resting at home and staying hydrated. If you notice that the fever is increasing in severity, then these are a few things that can be done at home to see if the fever can be managed without medical treatment:

• Take a lukewarm bath (not cold water)
• Place a cool washcloth on the forehead
• Use over-the-counter acetaminophen, according to dosage directions on the package. Choose children’s brand medication for young members of your family.
• Adjust the thermostat in the house
• Remove blankets and heavy clothing
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially drinks with electrolytes to counteract the minerals lost through sweating

Even though ice baths and alcohol rubs are sometimes recommended as DIY fever treatments, these at-home methods should be avoided. Ice and alcohol rubs cause the body to shiver, which increases the internal temperature even more.

The main benefit of lowering a fever is to help the person be more comfortable, especially when they are trying to sleep at night. Additionally, body temperature regulation is essential to avoid potentially dangerous side-effects, such as seizures.

When is a Fever Dangerous?

A mild fever isn’t considered dangerous. If you or a family member has a low-grade fever with other common illness symptoms, then a few days of rest and healing at home might be just what the doctor ordered. But how do you know when it is time to seek medical attention? If the fever escalates, then it could potentially become dangerous.

These are a few signs that indicate you should seek medical attention immediately. Talk to the doctor if the fever is accompanied by:

• Bruising
• Rashes
• Difficulty breathing

Other signs that you need medical attention might include:

• You’ve recently received one or more vaccinations
• You visited another country recently
• You have a serious pre-existing condition
• A child seems confused or delirious
• A child won’t stop crying
• The person has a weakened immune system or other medical complications

Fevers in Children vs. Adults

One determining factor regarding whether medical care is needed is based on the severity of the fever and the age of the person. You should talk to a doctor when these criteria are met:

• 0 – 3 Months Old: The child has a rectal temperature at or above 100. 4 degrees F
• 3 – 12 Months Old: An oral temperature reading is at or above 102.2 degrees F
• 2 Years Old – Teenage Years: If the child’s fever lasts more than 24 – 48 hours
• Adults: If the fever is above 103 degrees F and lasts more than 48 hours. Any time an adult fever reaches 105 or more, talk to a doctor right away.

Medical Treatment for Fever

Since a fever is a symptom of an underlying condition, it is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis to determine the best treatment plan. For example, antibiotics might be recommended for a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection or strep throat.

If you need medical care right away, then visiting an Urgent Care might be the most effective solution. At our clinic, you don’t have to schedule an appointment or wait for an opening. Walk-ins are welcome! Your entire family has access to fast treatment for a variety of injuries and illnesses.

Visit us anytime to access high-quality services from our board-certified medical team. We provide both urgent care services and emergency treatments. Call iCare ER and Urgent Care if you have questions about available services, or if you would like to schedule an appointment.: (214) 407-8668.

What to Know about Fevers at Every Age

You’ve got chills, and they’re multiplying. And now your muscles ache and your body feels warm too. Uh oh. Looks like you may have a fever. Should you be concerned?

Although a fever could be worrisome, it’s not always serious. In general, fevers mean your body is fighting off an infection or illness. But things like exercise, hot weather, immunizations and even pregnancy can at times make you run warmer than normal.

The question will inevitably arise, however, when you’ll wonder if your fever should be concerning. We asked Devin Minior, MD, medical director of Banner Urgent Care, to provide some insight and recommendations for fevers at every age.

Newborns and children

Occasional infections and fevers are inevitable, even in babies and children. But when they seem dehydrated and irritable, you may wonder what to do.

Babies and children whose temperatures are lower than 102 degrees Fahrenheit (F) often don’t need medicine unless they are in pain or uncomfortable. Usually you can help ease their symptoms with medicines, rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

When it comes to medications, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the instructions on the medicine’s packaging. Never give aspirin to your child due to its association with Reye’s syndrome, a rare life-threatening disease. Infants under three months old should not be given any medicine for fever without first checking with your doctor.

When to seek help

You should seek medical attention for a child under the following fever scenarios:

• If 3 months old or younger and has a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher
• If 3 months to 3 years old and has a fever of 102. 2 degrees F or higher
• If 2 years old or younger and has a fever that lasts longer than 24 hours
• If older than 2 years old and has a fever that lasts longer than 72 hours
• If your child has a fever along with other symptoms, such as ear pain, sore throat or a stiff neck
• If your child has a febrile seizure
• If your child is not acting themselves, appears ill, or becomes listless or unresponsive
• If you are concerned

Immunizations are a vital first defense

Your body produces a fever to help fight off infection. “Having a child appropriately immunized completely changes the significance of a child’s fever and reduces the risk of many serious infections,” Dr. Minior said. Immunizations help eliminate the cause and severity of fevers before they even happen. Meet with a physician to make a plan for your child’s immunizations and protect them from known dangers. Are you missing your own immunizations? This guide will tell you which immunizations you need and how often they need to be boosted.

Adults: Ages 18 to 65

No treatment is necessary for a mild fever unless you are uncomfortable. The same comfort measures apply as with children, such as taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, drinking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest.

When to seek help:

• If your temperature is 103 degrees or higher
• If the fever symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment

Seek emergency medical attention if you are having difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe abdominal or chest pains, are agitated or confused or if you have a weakened immune system (those with cancer or AIDS).

Older adults: Ages 65 and older

Seniors typically have a lower body temperature and may run a bit cooler than young adults, so make sure you have a baseline reading of what your typical temperature should be. If you are running a low fever, the same comfort measures apply, such as taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen if you are uncomfortable, getting plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.

When to seek help

Due to other medical conditions and age, older adults can be more significantly impacted by bacterial and viral infections. You should seek immediate medical help if the fever is higher than 103 degrees F, if you are not able to perform the typical activities of daily living, or if you develop associated symptoms such as headache, severe shortness of breath, disorientation, chest pains, vomiting, convulsions or seizures.

Fevers during COVID-19

Key symptoms of the COVID-19 pandemic include fever, cough, fatigue, congestion, shortness of breath, and/or sore throat. What makes this illness challenging to diagnose, is that only some of these symptoms may be present at different times during the course of a COVID-19 infection. A low-grade fever of only 100.4 degrees F or above may only be present half of the time for these patients.

Diagnostic procedures and technology are evolving daily. For more on the latest testing guidelines and to learn more about the evolving situation, go to bannerhealth. com.

Need a doctor? To find a Banner Health physician, visit bannerhealth.com or find a Banner Urgent Care near you.

Other useful articles:

• 5 Tips to Make Your Child’s Hospital Stay Easier
• 7 Ways to Help Keep Your Family Healthy This Winter
• What to Know About Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

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Cold and Flu
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Why is temperature dangerous?

What is the danger of temperature?

Most of all, parents are afraid of fever, that is, an increase in body temperature in children.

We have collected several options for “threats” that scare parents if the temperature on the thermometer rises above “critical levels”:

• Protein will coagulate

• The brain will overheat

• Seizures will start

• The child will “burn out”.

What’s in reality?

An increase in temperature (fever) is a protective mechanism of the human body during the fight against infection. The body is able to control this process and it cannot harm itself.

A safe increase in body temperature is considered a mark of up to 42 degrees. And the protein will not curl. It is impossible to boil an egg at this temperature.

Let’s give an example: almost all housewives have an oven in the kitchen; for cooking a pie, a temperature of 180 degrees is required, for cooking fish or meat – 200-220 degrees. You yourself set this temperature and at the same time the oven will not overheat and will not break.

The same is true of the body: by engaging in the fight against viruses and bacteria, the immune system (hostess) begins to produce pyrogens (oven mode switches). Under their influence, the hypothalamus (oven) raises the temperature from normal to 39-40 degrees.

This is required to increase the efficiency of immune mechanisms, to produce acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin), which destroy pathogens. Microbes at this temperature will also hardly be able to multiply.

After the number of bacteria and viruses in the body has decreased, pyrogens cease to be produced and stimulate the hypothalamus, the body temperature returns to normal 36-37 degrees.

Is it necessary to fight “white fever” and give No-shpu?

To increase the temperature, the body activates its forces, reducing heat loss: a spasm of peripheral vessels occurs, the limbs cool, the skin turns pale, trembling and chills are connected.

In the post-Soviet space, it was customary to call this stage of white fever and try in every possible way to turn it into red. This term is absent in international sources, it is believed that this is only one of the mechanisms / stages of temperature increase.

No-shpa is not needed in this case, since its action is directed to the smooth muscles of the internal organs, and not to the vessels.

Febrile convulsions at high temperature.

They occur in about 2-5% of children aged 6 months to 5 years, with a peak usually occurring at 12-18 months of age.

The development is characteristic on the first day of the disease, when the temperature rises sharply beyond 38-39 degrees, the duration of convulsions is up to 15 minutes (usually up to 5 minutes), ending with sleep.

They are benign, do not require treatment and do not recur the next day.

They arise due to the immaturity of the central nervous system of babies, and then the children outgrow them.

Note that for prevention, drinking antipyretics is not effective.

When should the temperature be lowered?

It is necessary to monitor the child’s condition: when he is very ill, his muscles and joints, head and ears hurt, then we must give an antipyretic with an anesthetic purpose, regardless of what the thermometer shows.

What drugs can be used?

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are just them.

In order to get the effect of the medicine, you need to create cool and humid air in the room, it is important to solder the child (to prevent dehydration).

The immune system of the child should be able to fight viruses and bacteria, do not interfere with this by giving antipyretics uncontrollably.

High fever – causes, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and treatment

Encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis

Borreliosis

Measles

Whooping cough

Rubella

Diphtheria

Scarlet fever

Chicken pox

Poliomyelitis

Colds

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05 July

High temperature – the causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

An increase in temperature serves as a protective reaction of the body and can occur under the influence of various factors. Be sure to separate such conditions as hyperthermia (overheating) and fever, which is also accompanied by an increase in body temperature, but its mechanism differs from overheating and requires other measures to influence the body.

Possible causes

Fever is triggered by external (or exogenous) pyrogens – substances foreign to the body that have entered the bloodstream. These include infectious pyrogens: toxins of viruses and metabolic products of microorganisms. The primary group also includes non-infectious pyrogens: certain lipids, proteins and protein-containing substances that enter the body from the external environment or occur in the body during inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, or the decay of tumor tissues. Primary pyrogens, interacting with the cells of the immune system, initiate the production of internal, or endogenous (secondary) pyrogens – cytokines. They, acting on the center of thermoregulation in the brain, cause an increase in body temperature.

The feverish state has its own dynamics and includes several stages.

If body temperature is taken as the criterion for the course of fever, then three stages can be distinguished:

stage 1 – the period of temperature rise;

Stage 2 – the period of preservation, or standing temperature;

Stage 3 – the period of temperature decrease to normal values ​​..

Temperature rise stage

The rate of temperature rise depends on the concentration of pyrogens in the blood and can serve as a diagnostic sign.

A rapid increase in temperature to high values ​​​​is observed with influenza, lobar pneumonia,

and also possible when a foreign protein enters the blood (for example, when transfusing blood components). In this case, there is a strong chill, there is a cooling of the skin, which is due to a spasm of the superficial blood vessels.

A slow rise in temperature is characteristic of adenovirus infection, typhoid fever, brucellosis. In these cases, there may be no pronounced chills, and the first sensations of the disease will be fever, dry eyes, headache, and malaise. Possible blanching of the skin, coldness of the feet and hands.

What should be done?

First of all, it is necessary to warm the patient by wrapping him in a blanket. A heating pad applied to the legs and arms gives a good effect.

Temperature standing stage

After reaching the upper value, the temperature remains at this level for some time. This period is called the stage of standing temperature, when a balance is established between heat production and heat transfer. At this stage of the disease, the patient feels fever, drowsiness. Perhaps lack of appetite, thirst. Depending on the level of temperature rise, a weak or subfebrile temperature is distinguished – 37-38 ° C; moderate, or febrile – 38-39°C; high – 39-41 ° C and excessive – above 41 ° C.

Knocking down the temperature is not always appropriate.

Fever is a protective and adaptive reaction of the body that occurs in response to the action of pyrogens.

At a temperature of 37.5-38 ° C, the body actively fights infection. However, each person reacts differently to elevated temperatures. Therefore, when deciding on a drug-induced decrease in temperature, one should focus on well-being and associated symptoms. This is especially true for children. Conditionally, the threshold temperature at which it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of the state of health and external manifestations is a temperature of 38 ° C and above.

The period of maintaining the temperature at a high level depends on the infectious agent, the state of immunity and the treatment being carried out.

In normal cases, this time can vary from one to five days, but in severe cases of the disease, it can be extended for several weeks.

Temperature fluctuations in a febrile patient have a certain rhythm: the maximum values ​​are noted at 5-6 pm, the minimum – about 4-5 am and variability. With inflammation of the lungs, for example, the temperature can stay at a high level for a long time. For bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis are characterized by significant daily temperature fluctuations (1-2 ° C). The so-called debilitating fever is very dangerous, which is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations (with a rapid rise and fall), sometimes repeated two or three times during the day. There is such a fever with sepsis, the presence of cavities in pulmonary tuberculosis and the decay of lung tissue.

What should be done?

At high temperatures, it is necessary, if possible, to free the patient from excess clothing and provide access to fresh air, eliminating drafts. A cold compress can be applied to the forehead and areas of large vessels (elbows and knees). You can wipe the body with a towel moistened with cool water.

The issue of drug temperature reduction is decided in each case individually.

It is more difficult for a person to endure not high temperature, but intoxication of the body. Therefore, the main measures should be aimed at removing toxic metabolic products from the body. This is achieved by drinking plenty of water, if necessary – cleansing enemas.

When prescribing antipyretic drugs for children, the following nuances are taken into account:

– the age of the child is less than three months, and the temperature has risen above 38 ° C;

– a previously healthy child between the ages of three months and six years has a temperature above 39°C;

– in a child with heart or lung disease, the temperature exceeds 38 ° C;

– a child of any age (up to 18 years old) with a convulsive syndrome, diseases of the central nervous system, in the presence of such external signs as pallor, cyanosis of the skin and cold extremities, general lethargy and lethargy, it is necessary to reduce the temperature if it reaches 38 ° C Otherwise, a convulsive syndrome may occur, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to suffocation.

At high temperatures, the functioning of all organ systems changes.

The heart rate increases by 8-10 beats per minute for every degree of temperature increase. Often there are arrhythmias, more often extrasystole (extraordinary contractions), spasm of blood vessels and increased blood pressure.

The secretory and motor functions of the gastrointestinal tract are reduced, which leads to food retention in the intestines, and the lack of fluid causes constipation. Given these factors, it is necessary to adjust the nutrition of a febrile patient. Preference should be given to liquid easily digestible food, reducing the portion size, but increasing the number of meals.

There is a feature that should be taken into account for patients with diabetes. It must be remembered that fever is accompanied by an increase in blood glucose levels, which requires appropriate measures.

Treatment

The main antipyretic drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac. These drugs act quickly and are quickly excreted from the body.

Although the practice of taking antipyretic pills is widespread, experience shows that side effects are more pronounced in this case.

It is preferable to use rectal suppositories.

With this method of drug administration, the active substance enters directly into the blood through the blood vessels of the rectum. There is no irritating effect of drugs on the gastric mucosa. It becomes possible to administer the drug regardless of food intake.

Temperature reduction stage

The decrease in temperature in infectious diseases occurs either quickly and is accompanied by profuse sweating, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure, or slowly, within one to two days.

What should be done?

You can help the patient with a sharp drop in temperature by quickly changing wet clothes to dry ones and drinking hot tea.

It is important to remember that a decrease in temperature is not an indicator of recovery.