Fever

A Fever is a physiological response that increases body temperature above normal range (through raising the temperature set point in the hypothalamus as a defense mechanism).

• AKA: Pyrexia, Febrile Response.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) raise Body Temperature through hypothalamic regulation.
  • It can (typically) trigger Muscle Contraction through thermoregulatory response.
  • It can (typically) cause Physical Symptoms through temperature elevation.
  • ...
  • It can (often) produce Chills through temperature adjustment.
  • It can (often) cause Sweating through heat regulation.
  • It can (often) create Flushed Skin through vasodilation.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Low Grade Fever to being a High Grade Fever, depending on its temperature elevation.
  • It can range from being an Acute Fever to being a Chronic Fever, depending on its duration pattern.
  • It can range from being a Benign Fever to being a Critical Fever, depending on its clinical significance.
  • ...
  • It can be treated with Antipyretic Medication through temperature reduction.
  • It can require Medical Attention for vulnerable patients like young children.
  • It can indicate Underlying Condition through systemic response.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Infectious Fevers, such as:
    • Viral Fevers, such as:
      • Influenza Fever during flu infection.
      • COVID-19 Fever during coronavirus infection.
    • Bacterial Fevers, such as:
      • Meningitis Fever during meningeal infection.
      • UTI Fever during urinary tract infection.
  • Non-Infectious Fevers, such as:
    • Inflammatory Fevers, such as:
      • Vasculitis Fever during blood vessel inflammation.
      • Autoimmune Fever during immune response.
    • Malignant Fevers, such as:
      • Cancer-Related Fever during neoplastic disease.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Hyperthermia, which involves elevated temperature without set point change.
  • Exercise-Induced Temperature Elevation, which is temporary and activity-related.
  • Environmental Heat Exposure, which is externally caused rather than internally regulated.
• See: Antipyretic, Body Temperature, Thermoregulation, Infection, Inflammation.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever Retrieved:2024-11-28.
  • Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of organism's anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with body temperature exceeding the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point in the hypothalamus. There is no single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature: sources use values ranging between in humans. The increase in set point triggers increased muscle contractions and causes a feeling of cold or chills. This results in greater heat production and efforts to conserve heat. When the set point temperature returns to normal, a person feels hot, becomes flushed, and may begin to sweat. Rarely a fever may trigger a febrile seizure, with this being more common in young children. Fevers do not typically go higher than . A fever can be caused by many medical conditions ranging from non-serious to life-threatening. This includes viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections—such as influenza, the common cold, meningitis, urinary tract infections, appendicitis, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and malaria. Non-infectious causes include vasculitis, deep vein thrombosis, connective tissue disease, side effects of medication or vaccination, and cancer. It differs from hyperthermia, in that hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature over the temperature set point, due to either too much heat production or not enough heat loss. Treatment to reduce fever is generally not required. Treatment of associated pain and inflammation, however, may be useful and help a person rest. Medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen) may help with this as well as lower temperature. Children younger than three months require medical attention, as might people with serious medical problems such as a compromised immune system or people with other symptoms. Hyperthermia requires treatment. Fever is one of the most common medical signs. It is part of about 30% of healthcare visits by children and occurs in up to 75% of adults who are seriously sick. While fever evolved as a defense mechanism, treating a fever does not appear to improve or worsen outcomes. Fever is often viewed with greater concern by parents and healthcare professionals than is usually deserved, a phenomenon known as "fever phobia."

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