What are the common misconceptions about fever in children. How can parents accurately assess and respond to their child’s fever. When does a fever become dangerous for a child. What are the benefits of fever in fighting infections.

The Truth About Fever: Separating Fact from Fiction

Fever is a common occurrence in children that often causes anxiety among parents. However, many beliefs about fever are rooted in misconceptions rather than medical facts. This article aims to dispel these myths and provide accurate information about fever, its effects, and appropriate management strategies.

What Is Fever Phobia?

Fever phobia refers to the exaggerated fear and concern that parents experience when their child has a fever. This phenomenon often leads to unnecessary worry, sleep loss, and potentially harmful interventions. Understanding the true nature of fever can help alleviate these concerns and promote more appropriate responses to this common symptom.

Defining Fever: When Is Body Temperature Considered Elevated?

One of the first steps in addressing fever is accurately determining its presence. Many parents mistakenly assume that a child feeling warm indicates a fever. However, various factors can contribute to increased skin temperature without an actual fever being present.

Accurate Temperature Measurement

To definitively diagnose a fever, it’s essential to use a reliable thermometer and understand the temperature thresholds for different measurement methods:

• Rectal, ear, or forehead temperature: 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
• Oral temperature: 100°F (37.8°C) or higher
• Armpit temperature: 99°F (37.2°C) or higher

These cutoffs help differentiate between normal temperature variations and true fevers, allowing for more informed decision-making regarding a child’s health.

The Beneficial Role of Fever in Fighting Infections

Contrary to popular belief, fever is not inherently harmful to children. In fact, it plays a crucial role in the body’s defense against infections.

How Does Fever Help Combat Illness?

Fever activates the body’s immune system, enhancing its ability to fight off pathogens. Normal fevers between 100°F and 104°F (37.8°C – 40°C) are generally beneficial for sick children, as they indicate that the body is actively working to overcome the infection.

Dispelling the Myth of Fever-Induced Brain Damage

One of the most persistent myths surrounding fever is the belief that high temperatures can cause brain damage. This misconception often leads to unnecessary panic and over-treatment of fevers.

At What Temperature Does Brain Damage Occur?

Brain damage from fever is extremely rare and only occurs at temperatures above 108°F (42°C). Such high temperatures are almost never reached through illness alone and typically result from extreme environmental conditions, such as a child being left in a closed car on a hot day.

Fever-Induced Seizures: Understanding the Facts

Febrile seizures are another source of concern for many parents. However, the reality of these events is often less alarming than commonly believed.

How Common Are Febrile Seizures?

Only about 4% of children are susceptible to fever-induced seizures. While these episodes can be frightening to witness, they typically resolve within 5 minutes and do not cause any lasting harm. Importantly, febrile seizures do not increase the risk of speech delays, learning problems, or future seizures unrelated to fever.

Treating Fever: When Is Intervention Necessary?

Many parents believe that all fevers require treatment with medication. However, this approach is not always necessary or beneficial.

Should Every Fever Be Treated with Medication?

Fever only needs to be treated if it causes discomfort for the child. Most fevers don’t cause significant discomfort until they exceed 102°F or 103°F (39°C or 39.5°C). Below these temperatures, treatment may not be necessary unless the child is experiencing other symptoms of distress.

The Body’s Natural Fever Regulation

It’s important to understand that the brain has built-in mechanisms to regulate body temperature. Most fevers from infections don’t exceed 103°F or 104°F (39.5°C – 40°C), and it’s extremely rare for them to reach 105°F or 106°F (40.6°C or 41.1°C). These higher temperatures, while concerning, are still generally harmless in the context of illness.

Expectations for Fever Treatment and Duration

Understanding the typical course of fever can help parents manage their expectations and avoid unnecessary worry.

How Much Does Fever Typically Decrease with Treatment?

When treating a fever with medication, it’s normal for the temperature to decrease by about 2°F to 3°F (1°C to 1.5°C). A complete return to normal temperature is not always achievable or necessary.

How Long Do Fevers Usually Last?

Fevers associated with viral infections typically last for 2 to 3 days. It’s normal for the fever to return when fever-reducing medication wears off, potentially requiring repeated treatment. The fever will usually resolve completely once the body successfully fights off the virus, often around day 3 or 4 of the illness.

Assessing the Severity of Illness: Beyond Temperature

While fever is an important symptom, it’s not always indicative of the severity of an illness.

Is a Higher Fever Always More Serious?

The height of a fever does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the underlying condition. A child with a high fever may have a minor illness, while a child with a lower fever could be more seriously ill. The key is to assess the child’s overall appearance and behavior rather than focusing solely on the temperature reading.

What Are the Most Important Factors to Consider?

When evaluating a child with a fever, parents and healthcare providers should prioritize the child’s overall condition. Factors such as activity level, appetite, hydration status, and the presence of other symptoms are often more informative than the exact temperature number.

Understanding Normal Temperature Variations

Body temperature naturally fluctuates throughout the day, which can sometimes be misinterpreted as fever.

What Is Considered a Normal Temperature Range?

Oral temperatures between 98.7°F and 100°F (37.1°C to 37.8°C) are within the normal range. The body’s temperature typically peaks in the late afternoon and evening. A true low-grade fever is defined as a temperature between 100°F and 102°F (37.8°C – 39°C).

By understanding these facts about fever, parents can approach their child’s illnesses with greater confidence and make more informed decisions about when to seek medical attention. Remember that fever is often a sign that the body is effectively fighting off an infection, making it an ally rather than an enemy in many cases.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Fever

While most fevers are benign and self-limiting, there are situations where medical evaluation is necessary.

What Are the Red Flags for Fever in Children?

Parents should consider seeking medical attention if their child:

• Is under 3 months old with any fever
• Has a fever lasting more than 3 days
• Appears very ill or lethargic
• Shows signs of dehydration
• Has a fever accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, or rash
• Has difficulty breathing or other concerning symptoms

These situations may indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires professional evaluation and treatment.

Fever Management Strategies for Parents

While not all fevers require treatment, there are steps parents can take to comfort a child with fever.

How Can Parents Help a Child with Fever Feel Better?

Consider the following strategies:

1. Encourage rest and fluid intake to prevent dehydration
2. Dress the child in light clothing and maintain a comfortable room temperature
3. Use fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if the child is uncomfortable
4. Avoid cold baths or alcohol rubs, as these can be counterproductive
5. Monitor the child’s overall condition and behavior rather than focusing solely on temperature

These measures can help alleviate discomfort and support the child’s recovery process.

The Role of Fever in Different Types of Infections

Fever patterns can sometimes provide clues about the underlying cause of illness, although this is not always definitive.

Do Viral and Bacterial Infections Cause Different Fever Patterns?

While there are some general trends, fever patterns alone cannot reliably distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. Both types of pathogens can cause high fevers, and the response to fever-reducing medications does not indicate the cause of the infection. A healthcare provider’s evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

Long-Term Impacts of Fever on Child Development

Parents often worry about potential long-term effects of fever on their child’s health and development.

Can Fever Affect a Child’s Future Health or Cognitive Abilities?

Typical fevers associated with common childhood illnesses do not cause long-term health problems or cognitive impairment. In fact, the experience of fighting off infections can help strengthen a child’s immune system. The body’s ability to generate a fever is a sign of a healthy immune response.

Fever in Special Populations

Certain groups may require different approaches to fever management and evaluation.

How Does Fever Management Differ for Infants and Immunocompromised Children?

Infants under 3 months old with any fever should be evaluated by a healthcare provider due to their immature immune systems. Similarly, children with compromised immune systems may need more aggressive evaluation and treatment of fever, as their bodies may struggle to fight infections effectively. In these cases, even low-grade fevers may warrant medical attention.

The Evolution of Fever Management in Pediatrics

Medical understanding and approaches to fever have changed significantly over time.

How Has the Medical Perspective on Childhood Fever Changed?

In recent decades, there has been a shift away from aggressive fever reduction towards a more balanced approach. Modern pediatric practice recognizes fever as a natural and often beneficial response to infection. This has led to more judicious use of fever-reducing medications and a focus on overall comfort and well-being rather than achieving a specific temperature goal.

Fever and Vaccination

Fever can sometimes occur as a side effect of childhood vaccinations, causing concern for some parents.

Is Fever After Vaccination a Cause for Concern?

Mild to moderate fever following vaccination is a common and generally harmless side effect. It indicates that the body is mounting an immune response to the vaccine, which is necessary for developing protection against the targeted disease. Unless the fever is high or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it typically does not require medical intervention beyond standard comfort measures.

The Future of Fever Management

Ongoing research continues to refine our understanding of fever and its role in health and disease.

What New Developments Are Emerging in Fever Research?

Current areas of investigation include:

• More precise methods for assessing the significance of fever in different clinical contexts
• Development of novel fever-reducing medications with fewer side effects
• Exploration of the potential benefits of allowing fever to run its course in certain situations
• Improved education strategies to reduce fever phobia among parents and caregivers

These ongoing efforts aim to further optimize fever management and improve outcomes for children with febrile illnesses.

In conclusion, understanding the true nature of fever can help parents navigate this common childhood experience with greater confidence and less anxiety. By recognizing fever as a generally beneficial immune response and focusing on overall well-being rather than specific temperature numbers, parents can provide appropriate care while avoiding unnecessary interventions. As always, when in doubt about a child’s condition, consulting with a healthcare provider is the best course of action.

Fever – Myths Versus Facts

Many parents have false beliefs (myths) about fever. They think fever will hurt their child. They worry and lose sleep when their child has a fever. This is called fever phobia. In fact, fevers are harmless and often helpful. Let these facts help you better understand fever.

MYTH. My child feels warm, so she has a fever.

FACT. Children can feel warm for a many reasons. Examples are playing hard, crying, getting out of a warm bed or hot weather. They are “giving off heat.” Their skin temperature should return to normal in about 20 minutes. About 80% of children who act sick and feel warm do have a fever. If you want to be sure, take the temperature. These are the cutoffs for fever using different types of thermometers:

• Rectal (bottom), ear or forehead temperature: 100.4° F (38.0° C) or higher
• Oral (mouth) temperature: 100° F (37.8° C) or higher
• Under the arm (Armpit) temperature: 99° F (37. 2° C) or higher

MYTH. All fevers are bad for children.

FACT. Fevers turn on the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection. Normal fevers between 100° and 104° F (37.8° – 40° C) are good for sick children.

MYTH. Fevers above 104° F (40° C) are dangerous. They can cause brain damage.

FACT. Fevers with infections don’t cause brain damage. Only temperatures above 108° F (42° C) can cause brain damage. It’s very rare for the body temperature to climb this high. It only happens if the air temperature is very high. An example is a child left in a closed car during hot weather.

MYTH. Anyone can have a seizure triggered by fever.

FACT. Only 4% of children can have a seizure with fever.

MYTH. Seizures with fever are harmful.

FACT. These seizures are scary to watch, but they stop within 5 minutes. They don’t cause any permanent harm. They don’t increase the risk for speech delays, learning problems, or seizures without fever.

MYTH. All fevers need to be treated with fever medicine.

FACT. Fevers only need to be treated if they cause discomfort (makes your child feel bad). Most fevers don’t cause discomfort until they go above 102° or 103° F (39° or 39.5° C).

MYTH. Without treatment, fevers will keep going higher.

FACT. Wrong, because the brain knows when the body is too hot. Most fevers from infection don’t go above 103° or 104° F (39.5°- 40° C). They rarely go to 105° or 106° F (40.6° or 41.1° C). While these are “high” fevers, they also are harmless ones.

MYTH. With treatment, fevers should come down to normal.

FACT. With treatment, most fevers come down 2° or 3° F (1° or 1.5° C).

MYTH. If you can’t “break the fever”, the cause is serious.

FACT. Fevers that don’t come down to normal can be caused by viruses or bacteria. The response to fever medicines tells us nothing about the cause of the infection.

MYTH. Once the fever comes down with medicines, it should stay down.

FACT. It’s normal for fevers with most viral infections to last for 2 or 3 days. When the fever medicine wears off, the fever will come back. It may need to be treated again. The fever will go away and not return once the body overpowers the virus. Most often, this is day 3 or 4.

MYTH. If the fever is high, the cause is serious.

FACT. If the fever is high, the cause may or may not be serious. If your child looks very sick, the cause is more likely to be serious.

MYTH. The exact number of the temperature is very important.

FACT. How your child looks and acts is what’s important. The exact temperature number is not.

MYTH. Oral temperatures between 98.7° and 100° F (37.1° to 37.8° C) are low-grade fevers.

FACT. These temperatures are normal. The body’s normal temperature changes throughout the day. It peaks in the late afternoon and evening. A true low-grade fever is 100° F to 102° F (37.8° – 39° C) .

SUMMARY. Keep in mind that fever is fighting off your child’s infection. Fever is one of the good guys.

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

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Last Reviewed: 07/22/2023

Last Revised: 12/30/2022

Copyright 2000-2023 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Fever & Temperature In Adults: When To Worry

Karen Justiniano, DO, MS, Stamford Health Medical Group

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A friend of mine whose father is 70 years old told me her story. It went something like this:

“My father never gets fevers. Out of nowhere the other day, he developed a 103 temperature with no other symptoms. He is also fully vaccinated against COVID-19. My mother brought him to the emergency room. Did she do the right thing, or would he likely have been fine if he stayed home and let the fever run its course?”

As a physician who cares for a variety of people with a variety of conditions, I have to say of course she did the right thing! When in doubt or when concerned, seeking medical attention is the smart thing to do.

But the longer answer is a little more complicated than that. It all starts with breaking down the purpose of a fever, and when you should truly worry. Please note—fevers in infants or young children are sometimes a different story—what you are about to read relates to adults only.

What is a fever and why do we get them, and sometimes with no other symptoms?

Fever is an elevated body temperature which means your temperature is 100.4 degree F or higher. A fever is the body’s way of fighting an infection by naturally raising your body’s temperature to “kill the germ.” The medical community likes to say that fever is a “good thing,” in most cases.

And yes, it’s completely possible for adults to develop a fever with no other symptoms, and for doctors to never truly find the cause. Viral Infections can commonly cause fevers, and such infections include COVID-19, cold or the flu, airway infection like bronchitis, or the classic stomach bug.

That’s why you often hear the word “viral” as an explanation because these types of infections often go away on their own after a few days.

What is considered a high fever in adults?

A high-grade fever in adults is 103 degrees F or higher.

Is it possible that a fever could be a sign of a “breakthrough case” of COVID-19 even if the person is fully vaccinated?

Yes, but not highly likely. Breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated people have been reported, but symptoms tend to be milder than in non-vaccinated people, including fever.

First, make sure you are taking your temperature the right way. Taking your temperature by mouth is the most accurate method, and wait at least 30 minutes after you eat or drink anything hot or cold. Get medical attention for your fever if:

• Your temperature is high and has not gone down after taking Tylenol or Advil
• Your temperature lasts several days or keeps coming back
• You live in an area where people have COVID-19
• You have serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia. (Non-infections like these can cause fever as well.)

You should also seek medial attention if you have a fever and you:

• Are pregnant
• Recently returned from travel overseas
• Get infections often
• Are on chemotherapy, in which case you should seek medical attention immediately if the fever lasts for more than one hour.
• Have recently been bitten by a tick

Is 98.6 still considered “normal” body temperature?

Yes and no. You’ve probably always heard that the average body temperature is 98.6, but the truth is there’s a much wider range—from about 97 to 99 degrees F.

So why is 98.6 suddenly a myth after all these centuries? Research suggests body temperatures are falling overall. Doctors have a few ideas about why this is, including lower metabolic rates, lower rates of infection and more advanced thermometers.

A couple of helpful reminders:

1. As the saying goes, “Don’t fear the fever.” A fever is your body’s first line of defense in fighting off an infection.
2. If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have developed a high-grade fever, please call your doctor right away.

what to do, what temperature is considered high and why it is dangerous, causes and symptoms

Fever, fever – this is what we call an increase in body temperature. This is the most important defense mechanism of the human body and one of the main symptoms of infection. Most often, we encounter a fever with colds and flu. High temperatures cause some discomfort, but it helps to cope with the disease faster. We will tell you why adults have a fever, when it is necessary to bring down the temperature, and in what cases it is not worth it.

Why the temperature rises

¹

Body temperature can rise for various reasons: due to overheating, inflammation, hormonal imbalance. The processes of heat transfer in the human body are regulated by a small part of the brain – the hypothalamus. The temperature rises with any physical or chemical impact on it.

An increase in body temperature associated mainly with infections is called a fever. It develops when biologically active substances, cytokines, act on the hypothalamus. The immune system releases them into the blood in response to the inflammatory process. The production of cytokines is also enhanced by the waste products of microbes.

Fever is one of the main symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI). But it is also a protective reaction of the body, aimed at fighting the virus. When the temperature rises, the immune system synthesizes more leukocytes, which destroy or inactivate pathogenic microbes, and interferons, natural antiviral substances.

What temperature is considered high

^2.3

A temperature above 37˚C measured in the armpit is considered elevated. When measuring temperature in the oral cavity, a temperature of more than 37.2˚C is considered elevated, and in the rectum – more than 37.8˚C.

Types of fever:

● Subfebrile – 37.5–38˚C. Accompanies a chronic or easily flowing acute infection.

● Febrile – 38-39˚C. A frequent companion of most acute inflammatory processes – infectious and non-infectious.

● Pyretic (high) – 39-41˚C. This is one of the signs of a moderate flu. High fever is accompanied by symptoms that worsen well-being.

● Hyperpyretic (critically high) – more than 41˚C. It occurs in a severe form of influenza, causes life-threatening disorders of body functions.

What symptoms accompany fever

^{4, 5}

Subfebrile temperature is accompanied by weakness, feeling of weakness, headache, drowsiness, chills. At a temperature of 38˚C, the skin becomes hot, the cheeks turn red, the patient feels intense heat, dry mouth. Lips dry out and crack. With pyretic fever, nausea and vomiting may join. Hyperpyretic temperature is often accompanied by a disorder of consciousness, delirium.

Fever increases blood pressure and heart rate. An increase in temperature by one degree increases the pulse by 10-15 beats per minute.

What diseases occur with fever

⁶

The most common cause of fever in adults is acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI):

● Coronavirus, rhinovirus infection. This is SARS, affecting mainly the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and pharynx. Symptoms: runny nose, redness and sore throat, sneezing, coughing. The temperature is subfebrile (37–38˚С) or febrile (38–39C).

● Influenza. Influenza viruses can immediately affect the lower respiratory tract and cause a deep chest cough. Infection is most often accompanied by severe intoxication, which is manifested by headache, aching throughout the body, and severe weakness. The temperature can reach pyretic (39-41˚C) and hyperpyretic (over 41˚C).

● Respiratory syncytial virus infection. It often affects the trachea and bronchi, in a quarter of the patients it leads to pneumonia. Symptoms are similar to the flu, with the difference that intoxication is less pronounced, signs of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract come to the fore – a deep cough with pain behind the sternum.

● Parainfluenza. The virus infects the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx. The infection is accompanied by a runny nose, bouts of painful coughing, hoarseness, and sometimes a short-term loss of voice.

● Adenovirus infection. Runs with severe runny nose, sneezing, conjunctivitis. The eyes turn red, watery, there is pain and burning in the area of ​​​​the eyeballs and eyelids. Unlike other acute respiratory viral infections, adenovirus infection is often infected in spring and summer.

Other causes of fever:

● any infectious disease of a viral, bacterial, parasitic nature;

● non-infectious inflammations: acute pancreatitis, aspiration pneumonitis;

● allergic and autoimmune diseases: reaction to vaccination, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus;

● diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands;

● oncological diseases: malignant tumors of internal organs, leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis;

● neurological pathologies: traumatic brain injury, cerebral hemorrhage;

● thermal (solar) stroke;

● psychogenic: prolonged emotional stress, neuroses, hysteria.

When temperature rise is dangerous

Fever poses a threat to health with a strong rise in temperature, when the thermometer shows 40˚C or more. This condition leads to dehydration, disruption of vital organs, and significantly increases the risk of thrombosis.

For healthy adults, an increase in temperature during SARS by 3˚C from the norm (36.6˚C) is not dangerous. However, for some people, even a febrile temperature can be harmful. At risk:

● Elderly people. After 65 years, it is more difficult for the body to adapt to an increase in temperature due to the age-related decrease in the ability to thermoregulate, the acquisition of chronic diseases.

● People with chronic diseases of internal organs: kidneys, cardiovascular, nervous system. Fever increases the load on these organs and can lead to an exacerbation of the disease.

What to do when the temperature is high

⁷

Fever helps to defeat the infection faster. With ARVI without fever, the infection takes longer, is accompanied by a pronounced deterioration in well-being, and is more often complicated. Therefore, it is worth suffering malaise for 2-3 days and not bringing down the temperature, provided that the body temperature does not exceed 38.5˚C. To make it easier to transfer the condition, avoid any physical activity, drink plenty of fluids, do not wrap yourself in blankets and excessively warm clothes that impair heat transfer.

But there are times when it is better to bring down the temperature:

● The thermometer reads over 39˚C.

● The rise in temperature is accompanied by a strong deterioration in the condition: loss of strength, poor sleep, nausea, vomiting.

● The patient is at risk.

Fever above 40˚C in adults requires emergency medical attention.

Non-drug methods. Wiping with a damp cloth or a weak vinegar solution will help to reduce the temperature. It is recommended to drink more warm drinks, such as tea with raspberry jam. Raspberries contain natural salicylates – substances that reduce fever. Drink should be moderately warm. Excessively hot or cold drinks and foods should be avoided.

Antipyretics. If non-drug treatments do not help, take an antipyretic medication. The safest drugs are paracetamol-based, which can be taken even by small children and pregnant women. Paracetamol is included in most combined anti-cold complexes, which additionally relieve nasal congestion and symptoms of intoxication in acute respiratory viral infections.

Antivirals. Lowering the temperature is not an end in itself in the treatment of SARS. Antiviral therapy should fight the causative agent of the infection. To do this, develop specific antiviral drugs that prevent the reproduction of the virus and infection of healthy cells. In the treatment of colds and flu, enisamium iodide has proven itself well. Its use reduces the acute clinical manifestations of viral intoxication. ⁸

Enisamia iodide at a dosage of 500 mg is part of the drug Nobasit ^® Forte ⁸ . Nobasit ^® Forte begins to act within 2 hours after taking the tablet ^8. In addition to the direct antiviral effect, enisamia iodide has a pronounced anti-inflammatory activity ^{9, 10} . The combined action leads to a 3-fold decrease in the severity of fever and other symptoms of intoxication (headache and muscle pain), starting from the second day of treatment ¹¹ . Also Nobasit ^® Forte helps to reduce the duration of the disease. ⁸

Briefly about the main

● Elevated is defined as a temperature above 37˚C measured in the armpit. If it is caused by an infection, this temperature is called a fever.

● The most common cause of fever in adults is SARS. Other causes – infections, non-infectious inflammation, heat stroke, stress, malignant tumors – are much less common.

● Fever brings recovery closer, but often it greatly affects well-being: it is accompanied by weakness, headache, body aches. In the elderly and people with common chronic diseases, fever often causes dangerous complications.

● Cool down in healthy adults should be above 38.5˚C and in at-risk people above 38˚C. If the temperature rises above 40˚C, it is worth calling an ambulance.

● First, try to bring down the temperature with home remedies – cool body wraps, tea with raspberry jam. If that doesn’t help, take an antipyretic medicine.

● Antipyretics will ease the fever but will not speed up recovery. To defeat the infection as soon as possible, take antiviral drugs, for example, Nobasit ^®
Forte.

¹ Tatochenko V.K., Uchaikin V.F. Fever // Pediatric pharmacology – 2006 – https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/lihoradka

² Fugol D.S. An increase in body temperature in children and approaches to its correction // BC – No. 24, 2013 – https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=20603056

³ Vasilenko V.V. Measurement of body temperature // RMJ. – No. 29, 2008, S. 1948. https://www.rmj.ru/articles/istoriya_meditsiny/Izmerenie_temperatury_tela/

⁴ Dvovetsky L.I. Fever: to treat or not to treat // BC – No. 14, 2003 – https://www.rmj.ru/articles/obshchie-stati/Lihoradka_lechity_ili_ne_lechity/

⁵ Cheshik S.G., Vartanyan R.V. Respiratory syncytial viral infection: clinic, diagnosis, treatment // Children’s infections – No. 1, 2004 – https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/respiratorno-sintsitialnaya-virusnaya-infektsiya-klinika-diagnosti…

⁶ Kalyuzhnaya L.I., Zemlyanoy D.A. Heat transfer disorders and fever // Pediatrician – T.6, No. 1, 2015 – https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/narusheniya-teploobmena-i-lihoradka

⁷ Didkovsky N.A., Tanasova A.N. Fever. breast cancer. 2003; 4:189.

⁸ Instructions for medical use of Nobasit® Forte LP-006416.

⁹ Zyryanov S.K., Butranova O.I., Gaidai D.S., Kryshen K.L., Pharmacotherapy of acute respiratory infections caused by influenza viruses // Therapeutic archive – 2021, (1): pp. 17-27.

¹⁰ Kareva E.N., Fedotcheva T.A., Semeikin A.V., Kochina N.A., Krasnoshchok E.V., Shimanovsky N.L. Enisamia iodide – influence on the key components of the inflammatory process in acute respiratory viral infections // Therapeutic archive – 2022; 94 (11): pp. 1233 – 1238

¹¹ Lioznov D.A., Karnaukhova E.Yu., Zubkova T.G., Shakhlanskaya E.V., Evaluation of the effectiveness of the ARVI treatment regimen, including etiotropic (enisamia iodide) and symptomatic therapy // Therapeutic archive No. 3 – 2020.

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What to do at 40°C

Fever is one way the immune system fights infection ^1.2 . An increase in temperature begins with the entry of viruses, bacteria and other pathogens into the body. Next, a chain of reactions starts ^3.5 :

• Under the influence of pathogens, the body produces special substances – pyrogens ³ .
• Pyrogens enhance the production of mediators (mediators) of inflammation – prostaglandins ³ .
• Prostaglandins act on the hypothalamus – the part of the brain that controls the body’s thermoregulation ^3.5 .
• As pyrogens make the hypothalamus seem to have a low temperature, it begins to rearrange itself ⁵ . The thermoregulation center changes its “settings” so that the set point is above the norm ⁵ .
• After the restructuring of the hypothalamus, the muscles and skin vessels receive new “commands” ³ . To warm the body, the brain triggers small muscle contractions (shivering) to generate heat and constricts the blood vessels of the skin to save it. At this stage, a person feels cold – a feeling of chill familiar to almost everyone ^{3. 5} . In addition, muscle and joint pain, known as body aches, may also result from the action of prostaglandins ⁴ .

What causes a temperature of 40 °C?

Temperatures below 40°C are most commonly associated with infection ^1.14 , and not necessarily severe. Such high values ​​​​on the thermometer can also be observed with a cold, or, scientifically, with an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) ^14.15 . In the ARVI group, high fever is usually caused by adenoviruses and influenza viruses ^7.14 .

The flu starts abruptly, the state of health worsens suddenly. The first symptoms may be a temperature of 38-40 ° C, chills, weakness, eye pain and cough. Runny nose with influenza is less common and not at the onset of the disease, but at the end of the first day ¹⁴ . Flu fever lasts an average of 4 days ¹⁴ .

When infected with adenoviruses:

• the nasal cavity, mucous membrane of the eye, tonsils, pharynx are affected ⁶ ;
• symptoms appear slowly ⁶ ;
• The most disturbing thing is a severe runny nose and nasal discharge ¹⁵ ;
• lymph nodes may be enlarged ⁶ ;
• cold lasts up to 2 weeks ⁶ .

In a child, a temperature of 40 °C can also be a manifestation of herpangina. It is caused by enteroviruses, not herpes viruses, as many people mistakenly believe. With herpangina, bubbles form in the pharynx, which then burst, and in their place small ulcers appear that provoke a sore throat. Because of them, the child usually refuses to eat ⁸ .

As for bacteria, in case of a cold, they usually do not act independently, but join the viral disease ² . A bacterial infection may be suspected if a high temperature persists for more than 7 days ⁹ .

Temperature 40 °C without cold symptoms

It also happens that a high fever is not accompanied by cold symptoms. A possible cause of this condition is overheating (hyperthermia). In contrast to fever, when overheated, an increase in temperature up to 40 °C is associated with environmental conditions, and not with the effect of pyrogens on the hypothalamus ^3.