On and Off Fever for 3 Days: When to Worry About Fever in Adults

07.01.202315.07.2023 by alexxlab

When should you be concerned about a fever that comes and goes for 3 days. What are the common causes of persistent low-grade fever in adults and children. How to distinguish between harmless and potentially serious fevers.

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Understanding Low-Grade Fevers: Causes and Significance

A low-grade fever is defined as a body temperature between 98.7°F and 100.4°F (37.05°C and 38.0°C) that persists for more than 24 hours. While often not a cause for immediate concern, understanding the underlying reasons for such fevers can be crucial for proper health management.

What causes low-grade fevers? The most common culprits include:

Viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu)
Bacterial infections
Stress
Certain medications
Thyroid issues
Autoimmune diseases

Is a low-grade fever always a sign of illness? Not necessarily. In some cases, it may be a normal response of the body fighting off an infection. However, when a fever persists for an extended period, it warrants closer attention.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever in Adults

While most low-grade fevers are not cause for alarm, certain situations require medical intervention. Adults should consult a healthcare professional if:

The fever exceeds 103°F (39.4°C)
A lower-grade fever persists for more than three days
The fever is accompanied by severe symptoms such as confusion, persistent vomiting, or difficulty breathing

Are there any specific symptoms that, when combined with a fever, indicate a need for immediate medical attention? Yes, the following symptoms warrant urgent care:

Strange, rapidly worsening rash
Seizures
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Throat swelling
Hallucinations

Fever in Infants and Children: Special Considerations

Fevers in young children and infants require different levels of concern and action compared to adults. For infants under 3 months, even a slightly elevated temperature can indicate a serious infection.

When should you call a pediatrician for a child’s fever? Contact your child’s doctor if:

An infant under 3 months has any fever
A child appears unusually irritable, lethargic, or uncomfortable
The fever is accompanied by diarrhea, cold, or cough
The fever lasts continuously for more than three days

Is a low-grade fever in children always a cause for concern? Not necessarily. If your child is still making eye contact, drinking fluids, and playing, a low-grade fever may not be alarming. However, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and consult a healthcare professional if you’re unsure.

Common Causes of Persistent Low-Grade Fever

While viral infections like the common cold are the most frequent cause of persistent low-grade fevers, several other conditions can lead to this symptom.

Respiratory Infections

How do respiratory infections cause low-grade fevers? Your body naturally raises its temperature to combat bacteria or viruses causing an infection. Common respiratory infections that can lead to persistent low-grade fevers include:

Common cold
Flu
Viral pneumonia
Bronchitis

What are the typical symptoms accompanying respiratory infection-induced fevers? Along with a low-grade fever, you might experience:

Stuffy or runny nose
Sore throat
Sneezing
Cough
Fatigue
Lack of appetite

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Can a UTI cause a persistent low-grade fever? Yes, a hidden urinary tract infection can lead to a persistent fever in both children and adults. UTIs are typically caused by bacterial infections and may present with additional symptoms such as:

Frequent urination
Burning sensation while urinating
Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
Pelvic pain (in women)

Treatment Approaches for Persistent Low-Grade Fevers

The treatment for a persistent low-grade fever depends on its underlying cause. In many cases, especially with viral infections, the primary approach involves rest and hydration.

Should you always try to reduce a low-grade fever? Not necessarily. Fevers play a crucial role in helping your body fight off certain infections. In some cases, it’s best to let the fever run its course unless it’s causing significant discomfort.

When is medication appropriate for treating a fever? If your symptoms are particularly bothersome, you can consider taking acetaminophen to reduce the fever. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any medication regimen.

For more serious infections, your doctor may prescribe:

Antibiotics (for bacterial infections)
Antiviral drugs
Other specific medications based on the diagnosed condition

The Role of the Immune System in Fever

Understanding how the immune system relates to fever can provide insight into why our bodies react this way to infections and other health issues.

How does the immune system trigger a fever? When the body detects pathogens or other threats, it releases substances called pyrogens. These pyrogens signal the hypothalamus, the body’s thermostat, to raise the body’s core temperature. This increase in temperature creates an environment less hospitable to many pathogens and accelerates the body’s immune responses.

Is a fever always beneficial? While fever is generally a sign that your immune system is working, prolonged or very high fevers can be harmful. The body carefully regulates fever to balance its benefits against potential risks.

The Fever Cycle

Why do fevers often seem to come and go? Fevers typically follow a cycle:

The onset phase, where body temperature rises
The plateau phase, where the fever peaks and remains steady
The defervescence phase, where the body temperature returns to normal

This cycle can repeat multiple times during an illness, leading to the sensation of an “on and off” fever.

Distinguishing Between Viral and Bacterial Infections

One of the challenges in addressing persistent low-grade fevers is determining whether the underlying cause is viral or bacterial. This distinction is crucial as it impacts treatment decisions.

How can you tell if a fever is caused by a virus or bacteria? While it’s not always possible to distinguish without medical tests, some general guidelines include:

Viral infections often come with upper respiratory symptoms and generally improve on their own within a week or two
Bacterial infections may be accompanied by more localized symptoms and often require antibiotic treatment
Viral fevers tend to respond better to fever-reducing medications than bacterial fevers

Is it possible for a viral infection to become bacterial? Yes, in some cases, a viral infection can weaken the body’s defenses, allowing bacteria to establish a secondary infection. This is why persistent symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

The Impact of Stress on Body Temperature

While infections are a common cause of low-grade fevers, it’s important to recognize that psychological factors, particularly stress, can also influence body temperature.

How does stress affect body temperature? Chronic stress can lead to a sustained increase in core body temperature. This occurs due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which can impact the body’s thermoregulation.

Can stress alone cause a persistent low-grade fever? While stress-induced hyperthermia is typically mild, prolonged stress can lead to a sustained elevation in body temperature that mimics a low-grade fever. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as “psychogenic fever.”

Managing Stress-Related Temperature Changes

What can be done to address stress-induced temperature elevation? Strategies include:

Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation
Engaging in regular physical exercise
Ensuring adequate sleep
Seeking professional help for chronic stress or anxiety

It’s important to note that while stress can influence body temperature, persistent fevers should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out other underlying causes.

Fever and Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders represent another category of conditions that can lead to persistent low-grade fevers. In these cases, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, leading to inflammation and fever.

Which autoimmune disorders are commonly associated with low-grade fevers? Some examples include:

Rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus
Inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease)
Still’s disease

How can you distinguish between a fever caused by an infection and one caused by an autoimmune disorder? Autoimmune-related fevers often occur alongside other symptoms specific to the condition, such as joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis or skin rashes in lupus. Additionally, these fevers tend to be more persistent and may not respond to typical fever-reducing medications.

Diagnosis and Management of Autoimmune Fevers

What steps are involved in diagnosing an autoimmune cause for persistent low-grade fever? The process typically includes:

A thorough medical history and physical examination
Blood tests to check for markers of inflammation and autoantibodies
Imaging studies to look for signs of inflammation in specific organs
In some cases, biopsies of affected tissues

Treatment for autoimmune-related fevers usually involves addressing the underlying condition with immunosuppressive or immunomodulating medications. It’s crucial to work closely with a rheumatologist or other specialist to manage these complex conditions effectively.

Persistent Low-Grade Fever in Kids and Adults: Causes and Treatme

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Adults

For an adult, a fever isn’t usually a cause for concern unless it goes above 103°F (39.4°C). You should see a doctor if you have a fever higher than this.

If your fever is lower than 103°F, but lasts for more than three days, you should also visit a doctor.

You should seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs or symptoms accompanies a fever:

strange rash that rapidly worsens
confusion
persistent vomiting
seizures
pain when urinating
stiff neck
severe headache
throat swelling
muscle weakness
difficulty breathing
hallucinations

Infants

For infants under 3 months old, even a slightly higher than normal temperature can mean a serious infection.

Call your pediatrician for a low-grade fever if your baby seems unusually irritable, lethargic, or uncomfortable or has diarrhea, a cold, or a cough. In the absence of other symptoms, you should also see a doctor if a fever lasts continuously for more than three days.

Children

If your child is still making eye contact with you, drinking fluids, and playing, then a low-grade fever isn’t likely a cause for alarm. But you should still visit a doctor if a low-grade fever lasts for more than three days.

Also call your child’s pediatrician if your child:

is irritable or appears very uncomfortable
has poor eye contact with you
vomits repeatedly
has severe diarrhea
has a fever after being in a hot car

Viral infections, like the common cold, are the most common cause of a persistent low-grade fever, but there are other less common causes to consider.

Respiratory infections

Your body naturally raises its body temperature to help kill the bacteria or virus causing an infection. Colds or the flu are caused by viruses. Colds in particular can cause a low-grade fever that lasts more than a few days.

Other symptoms of a cold include:

stuffy or runny nose
sore throat
sneezing
cough
fatigue
lack of appetite

Viral pneumonia and bronchitis are two other types of respiratory infections that can also cause a low-grade fever. Along with a fever, chills, and a sore throat, pneumonia and bronchitis come with a cough that persists for weeks.

In children, it’s common to experience “back-to-back” viral infections. This can make it seem like the fever is lasting longer than it should be.

Treatment for viral infections involves rest and fluids until your body takes care of the infection. You can take acetaminophen for reducing a fever if your symptoms are really bothersome. Fevers are important in helping your body fight off certain infections, so sometimes it’s best to wait it out.

If the infection is more serious, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiviral drugs, or other medications to help treat the infection.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Persistent fever can signal a hidden urinary tract infection in both children and adults. A UTI is caused by a bacterial infection. Other symptoms include pain and burning while urinating, frequent urination, and bloody or dark urine.

A doctor can examine a sample of urine under a microscope to diagnose a UTI. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics.

Medications

A low-grade fever can occur about 7 to 10 days after starting a new medication. This is sometimes called drug fever.

Drugs associated with a low-grade fever include:

beta-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins and penicillins
quinidine
procainamide
methyldopa
phenytoin
carbamazepine

If your fever is related to a medication, your doctor may adjust your dosage or recommend a different drug. The fever should disappear once the medication is stopped.

Teething (infants)

Teething usually occurs between 4 and 7 months of age. Teething can occasionally cause mild irritability, crying, and a low-grade fever. If the fever is higher than 101°F, it’s not likely caused by teething and you should bring your infant to see a doctor.

Stress

A persistent fever can be caused by chronic, emotional stress. This is called a psychogenic fever. Psychogenic fevers are most common in young women and people with conditions often exacerbated by stress, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen don’t actually work against fevers caused by stress. Instead, anti-anxiety drugs are the therapy used to treat a psychogenic fever.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Though TB is more common in developing countries, thousands of cases are reported in the United States each year.

The bacteria can remain inactive in your body for years and cause no symptoms. When your immune system is weakened, however, TB can become active.

Symptoms of active TB include:

coughing up blood or sputum
pain with coughing
unexplained fatigue
fever
night sweats

TB can cause a persistent, low-grade fever, especially at night, which can result in night sweats.

A doctor can use a test called the purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test to determine if you’re infected with the TB bacteria. People diagnosed with active TB disease have to take several medications for six to nine months in order to cure the infection.

Autoimmune diseases

Body temperature has been found to be elevated in some people with chronic autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In one study, researchers learned that participants with a form of MS called relapsing MS who complained of fatigue also had a low-grade fever.

A low-grade fever is also a common symptom of RA. It’s thought to be caused by inflammation of the joints.

Diagnosing RA and MS can take time and may require multiple lab tests and diagnostic tools. If you’ve already been diagnosed with RA or MS, your doctor will want to first rule out another viral or bacterial infection as the potential cause of your fever.

In case of RA- or MS-related fever, a doctor will likely recommend that you drink plenty of fluids, remove extra layers of clothing, and take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen until the fever passes.

Thyroid issues

Subacute thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. It can cause a low-grade fever in some cases. Thyroiditis may be caused by infection, radiation, trauma, autoimmune conditions, or medications.

Other symptoms include:

muscle pain
fatigue
tenderness near the thyroid gland
neck pain that often radiates up to the ear

A doctor can diagnose thyroiditis with an examination of the neck and a blood test that measures thyroid hormone levels.

Cancer

Certain cancers — lymphomas and leukemias in particular — can cause a persistent and unexplained low-grade fever. Keep in mind that a cancer diagnosis is rare and a fever is a nonspecific symptom of cancer. Having a persistent fever doesn’t usually mean you have cancer, but it can alert your doctor to run certain tests.

Other common symptoms of leukemia or lymphoma include:

chronic fatigue
bone and joint pain
enlarged lymph nodes
headaches
unexplained weight loss
night sweats
weakness
breathlessness
loss of appetite

Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, a doctor may recommend a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other treatments.

Fevers will usually go away on their own. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help to lower a fever, but sometimes it’s better to ride out a low fever with fluids and rest.

If you decide to take an OTC medication, you can choose between acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.

For infants younger than 3 months, call your doctor first before giving them any medication.

For children, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are generally safe for reducing fever. Don’t give aspirin to children under 12 years old who are recovering from flu-like symptoms because it can cause a serious disorder called Reye’s syndrome.

If your child is younger than 12 years of age, talk to your doctor before giving them naproxen.

For teenagers and adults, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are generally safe to use according to the instructions on the label.

Shop for acetaminophen and NSAIDs to help lower a fever.

Most low-grade and mild fevers are nothing to worry about.

However, you should call your doctor if you’ve had a fever for more than three days straight, or your fever is accompanied by more troublesome symptoms such as vomiting, chest pain, rash, throat swelling, or a stiff neck.

It’s hard to know when you should call a doctor for a baby or young child. In general, seek medical care if your baby is less than three months old and has any fever at all. If your baby is older than that, you don’t have to see a doctor unless the fever runs above 102°F (38.9°C) or lasts continuously for more than three days.

Continue to monitor your child’s temperature throughout the day. Rectal temperatures are usually the most accurate. Call your pediatrician’s office if you’re not sure what to do.

Characteristics, Types, and When It’s Serious

A fever is a common side effect of illness like the flu. It happens when there is a temporary rise in body temperature. A fever is usually a sign that your immune system is busy fighting an infection or other illness.

In babies and toddlers even a slight fever may be a sign of a serious illness. In adults a fever is not usually serious or life-threatening.

However, sometimes a fever in adults can be a warning signal that something is not right. A high or persistent fever might be a sign of a serious health condition.

A fever is normally a short-term rise in temperature that helps your body get rid of illness. A fever begins when your immune system makes more white blood cells to fight an infection. The increase in white blood cells triggers your brain to heat your body up.

This causes a fever. In response, your body tries to cool itself off by tightening up on blood flow to your skin and contracting muscles. This makes you shiver and may cause muscle aches.

Your normal body temperature ranges from 97°F to 99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C). You may have a fever if your temperature rises above this.

Adults typically have a fever if their body temperature increases to 100.4°F (38°C). This is called a low grade fever. A high grade fever happens when your body temperature is 103°F (39.4°C) or above.

Most fevers usually go away by themselves after 1 to 3 days. A persistent or recurrent fever may last or keep coming back for up to 14 days.

A fever that lasts longer than normal may be serious even if it is only a slight fever. This is because a recurrent fever might be a sign of a more serious infection or health condition.

Common fever symptoms in adults include:

sweating
chills (shivering)
headaches
muscle pain
loss of appetite
fatigue
weakness

Call your doctor immediately if you have a high grade fever — when your temperature is 103°F (39.4°C) or higher. Get medical help if you have any kind of fever for more than three days. Let your doctor know if your symptoms get worse or if you have any new symptoms.

Serious symptoms
A fever may be a sign of serious illness if you have:
a severe headache
dizziness
sensitivity to bright light
stiff neck or neck pain
skin rash
difficulty breathing
frequent vomiting
dehydration
stomach pain
muscle cramps
confusion
seizures
Other signs that a fever may be serious are:
pain when urinating
not urinating enough
passing dark urine
passing urine that smells bad

If you have serious fever symptoms, let your doctor know if you have recently traveled to a different country or attended an event that had lot of people. This may help your doctor find out the cause.

Common causes of a fever in adults are:

viral infection (like the flu or a cold)
bacterial infection
fungal infection
food poisoning
heat exhaustion
serious sunburn
inflammation (from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis)
a tumor
blood clots

Some adults may have a higher risk of getting a fever. If you have a chronic health condition or have been treated for a severe illness, you may be more likely to get a serious fever.

Let your doctor know about any fever symptoms if you have:

asthma
rheumatoid arthritis
diabetes
Crohn’s disease
heart disease
sickle cell disease
liver disease
kidney disease
chronic lung disease
cystic fibrosis
cerebral palsy
stroke
multiple sclerosis
muscular dystrophy
HIV or AIDS

Some medications and treatments can also lead to a serious fever, these include:

antibiotics
blood pressure drugs
seizure medications
DTaP vaccine
pneumococcal vaccine
steroids
chemotherapy
radiation treatment
methotrexate
azathioprine
cyclophosphamide
post-transplant medications

A fever is not normally harmful on its own. Most fevers go away within a few hours to days as your body defeats an infection.

Help yourself feel better with these at-home flu remedies:

stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, such as:
- water
- juice
- soup
- broth
eat light foods that are easy on the stomach
rest
use a cool compress, like a damp towel
take a warm sponge bath
dress in light, comfortable clothing
turn down the temperature in your room

Over-the-counter medications can help ease your fever and symptoms, like headaches and muscle pain:

ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

You may need treatment from your doctor for more serious causes of a fever. The treatment depends on the cause. Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat serious infections:

antibiotics
antivirals
antifungals

A fever may be a sign of serious illness. A high fever can also cause serious side effects.

Emergency Symptoms
Get emergency medical attention by going to the ER or calling an ambulance if you have any of these symptoms:
seizure or convulsions
fainting or loss of consciousness
confusion
hallucinations
severe headache pain
stiff or painful neck
difficulty breathing
hives or a rash
swelling in any part of the body

A fever in adults is usually not harmful on its own. It is a sign that your body is dealing with an infection or other illness. In some cases a high or long-lasting fever can be a sign of a serious illness. You may need urgent medical treatment.

Do not ignore a fever. Get plenty of rest and fluids to help your body heal. See your doctor if you have a fever that lasts longer than 3 days or if you have other severe symptoms.

If you have a chronic condition or have been treated for a serious illness, let your doctor know if you have any kind of fever.

Fever – GBUZ City Children’s Clinical Hospital No. 1

Fever and its features in children.

Increase
temperature is the most common symptom of the disease in children, each child has at least 1 time per year
fever is noted. Temperature rise is also very common
forces the use of medicines, all feverish children receive antipyretic
means. This is facilitated by both the idea of many parents about the dangers of high temperature,
and the desire of the doctor to alleviate the discomfort associated with febrile
reaction or at least make
appointment, the effect of which will be obvious.

Wrestling
with fever is an important element of treatment, but not an end in itself, since lowering the temperature
in most cases does not affect the course of the disease. That’s why
the desire to reduce the temperature by all means and keep it at
normal level indicates
only about a weak acquaintance with the causes and significance of fever.

Fever-
an increase in body temperature that accompanies
most infectious and some non-infectious (injuries,
inflammatory, autoimmune and oncological) diseases.

Normal
the child’s body temperature fluctuates during the day from 360C to 370C.

Fever
– a defensive reaction directed against the causative agent of infection. At
t 38.50C
and above, the synthesis of interferons is enhanced,
protein synthesis, leukocytosis is stimulated. All these factors reduce the ability to
reproduction of many microorganisms. Fever suppression reduces intensity
immune response. Fever is dangerous at temperatures closer to 410
C – mainly in children from risk groups. With a high fever, metabolism increases sharply, oxygen consumption
and the release of carbon dioxide, fluid losses increase, there is
extra stress on the heart and lungs. Initially healthy child
tolerates these changes easily, although experiencing discomfort, but in children with
pathology (often the central nervous system and congenital heart defects) can
worsen the condition significantly.

Distinguish between “pink” and “white” (pale) fevers.
“Pink” fever signals the correspondence of heat production to heat transfer,
with it, the skin is pink, hot, moist to the touch, the child behaves normally. With “white”
fever, the skin is cyanotic or marbled, often appearing “goose bumps”
skin”, acrocyanosis, cold extremities.

FEVERS

Adverse
phenomena caused directly by fever are extremely rare.
The danger may be a disease that caused a fever that plays
protective role. The main danger of fever is dehydration, which is easily
prevented or corrected by the introduction of an additional amount
liquids. Violation of microcirculation, the signs of which are a marble pattern
skin, “goosebumps”, cold extremities, observed with “white” fever and
require restoration of microcirculation. Fever is not harmful
actions on the CNS.

K
dangers of fever include the possibility of developing febrile seizures, which
observed in 2-4% of those predisposed to
children, more often at the age of 12-18 months and do not have an unfavorable
influence on the central nervous system and its development.

In general, the hazards associated with
fever, are largely exaggerated, with most infections the maximum
temperature is set within 39.5-40.00 C, which does not threaten
persistent health problems.

Fever
in a child always indicates a disease, but its severity, as
usually does not correlate with its severity. Many common viral
(eg, rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia) and bacterial (otitis media,
urinary tract infection, impetigo) infections in immunocompetent individuals do not
have a severe course, against the background of antibiotic therapy or symptomatic
treatment, recovery is fast. Other infections (sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia,
purulent infections of bones and joints, pyelonephritis) without treatment often lead to
complications and sometimes even death. Most febrile
diseases in children is associated with viral infections and those bacterial,
which only briefly violate the health and do not pose a threat to the life of the child.

.Fever
in a child under the age of 3 months of life requires close monitoring due to
high risk of developing a serious bacterial infection.

“White (pale)” fever requires
restoration of microcirculation.

Fever
without catarrhal phenomena, rash and other visible local symptoms of infection
common with urinary tract infection, in children 0-3 years of age may indicate the development
bacteremia.

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;text-indent:35.4pt”> Preservation
febrile fever (more than 38.5 C) for more than 3 days, especially with rapid breathing
(including in the absence of catarrhal phenomena) may indicate
development of pneumonia.

Hemorrhagic
a rash (not blanching on pressure) with fever may indicate meningococcemia – in this case, emergency therapy is required.

Rigidity
occipital muscles or their soreness, bulging of the fontanel on the background of fever
indicates a CNS infection (meningitis).

Fever associated with abdominal pain and vomiting
requires exclusion of appendicitis.

Fever
with joint pain may be associated with bacterial arthritis, osteomyelitis.

Resistant
fever with rash, changes in the oral mucosa, scleritis,
an increase in lymph nodes requires the exclusion of Kawasaki disease.

Continuous
(more than 2 weeks) fever requires examination to detect long-term
ongoing infections, connective tissue diseases, immunodeficiency,
oncological pathology.

TREATMENT
FEVER

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;text-indent:35.4pt”> Fever
is not an absolute indication for temperature reduction.

In cases where the reduction
temperature is necessary, there is no need to strive to bring it to normal – enough
decrease by 1-1.50С.

Readings
to decrease in temperature:

In previously healthy children older than
3 months:

– at body temperature above 39. 00C -39.50C; and / or

– in the presence of a muscular or head
pain;

– in shock.

In children under 3 months of age:

– at body temperature above 380C.

In children with diseases of the heart, lungs,
CNS:

– at body temperature above 38.50C.

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;text-indent:35.4pt”> Uncontrolled
the use of antipyretics, especially “course”, creates the illusion
well-being and causes a belated appointment of etiotropic drugs.

Selection
antipyretics should be founded,
first of all, on their safety, and not on the strength of the effect. Ideally, an antipyretic drug for children should have
the ability to quickly and effectively reduce the temperature by at least 10C,
available in liquid form and as suppositories, rarely cause side effects
effects at therapeutic doses and have as wide a gap as possible between
therapeutic and toxic dose.

This
only two drugs, paracetamol and ibuprofen, currently meet this parameter.

B
pediatric practice prohibited the use of acetylsalicylic acid and nimesulide.

REFERENCE
FOR PARENTS

*temperature – protective reaction; her
should be reduced only according to the indications given above;

*adequate fluid administration
a feverish child is more important than a decrease in his temperature;

*not important in antipyretics
“strength”, but safety, to improve the patient’s condition, it is enough to reduce
temperature by 1-1.50C;

* Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most
safe drugs, it is important to adhere to the recommended one-time and daily
their dosages;

*do not prescribe antipyretic “course”
to prevent a rise in temperature, because you can see the progress
bacterial infection;

*do not use for the same reason
antipyretic drugs for longer than 3 days without consulting a doctor;

*with the development of “pale” fever with
spasm of the skin vessels, the introduction of an antipyretic agent should be combined with
vigorously rubbing the baby’s skin
until redness and immediately call a doctor.

“Brought from the resort”: 18 Russians fell ill with dengue fever

Fresh issue number

Society

06/14/2023 08:35

Irina Nevinnaya

Since the beginning of the year, 18 cases of dengue fever have been registered in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. This was announced by the head of the regional division of Rospotrebnadzor Dmitry Goryaev.

iStock

“Residents of the region were diagnosed with such a diagnosis after returning to Russia from Thailand and Egypt, and among the sick were 3 children and a pregnant woman,” Goryaev noted. “They all noted insect bites, but did not use repellents.”

Due to closed borders with Europe, many plan to spend their holidays in Eastern countries – but before doing this, it is worth learning about the risks of specific infections.

What is dengue fever?

This is an acute transmissible (contagious, transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking insects) viral disease that occurs with fever, intoxication, muscle and joint pain, rash and swollen lymph nodes.

Where can you get infected?

In Russia, only imported cases of dengue fever are registered among tourists who returned from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic.

How does infection occur?

Dengue virus vectors are mosquitoes of some species. A mosquito becomes infectious after it enters the body with the blood of a sick person and remains infected for the rest of its life. .

Fever can only be transmitted from person to person through blood. The risk of infection is possible in the case of a blood transfusion or when people use the same syringe. In other cases, there is no risk of contracting a fever.

How many times can you get dengue fever?

The causative agent of infection is dengue virus (DENV). There are four different serotypes, each of which can cause disease.

After an infection, a person develops immunity only to the serotype of the virus with which he was infected. Therefore, you can get dengue fever four times. Re-infection with a different serotype of the virus increases the risk of severe disease and death.

How long after infection does it take before symptoms appear?

The incubation period for Dengue virus infection is from 3 to 15 days.

How does the disease progress?

The disease may be asymptomatic, with mild symptoms or severe disease.

As a rule, Dengue fever begins acutely with a rise in temperature to 39-40 degrees. Then the state of health changes in waves: by the end of the third day, the temperature drops, after 1-3 days it rises again, then decreases after 2-3 days.

Other symptoms include severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, pain in the back, muscles and joints, especially knees.

The characteristic symptom is a profuse, itchy rash that first appears on the trunk, then spreads to the limbs. The rash persists for 3-7 days and leaves behind peeling.

In rare cases, a severe form of dengue fever – hemorrhagic can develop. It is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, subcutaneous hemorrhages (bruising without bruising), bleeding from the nose, bleeding gums, vomiting and diarrhea with blood, internal bleeding.

If left untreated, hemorrhagic dengue is more likely to be fatal.

But asymptomatic and mild dengue is also possible.

How to protect yourself?

First of all – try not to allow mosquitoes:

– wear closed clothes,

– use repellents for open areas of the body,

– use special nets for windows and doors,

– use aerosols, fumigators and other means that repel mosquitoes indoors.

What if you have been sick before?

People who have had dengue fever and are planning a return trip to an endemic country need to be especially careful. Because when re-infected (with a different serotype of the virus), the risk of developing a severe form of fever increases.