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Fever

Also called: Pyrexia

A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. It is not an illness. It is part of your body's defense against infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections do well at the body's normal temperature (98.6 F). A slight fever can make it harder for them to survive. Fever also activates your body's immune system.

Infections cause most fevers. There can be many other causes, including

Treatment depends on the cause of your fever. Your health care provider may recommend using over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower a very high fever. Adults can also take aspirin, but children with fevers should not take aspirin. It is also important to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration.

Symptoms of Fever

The following features are indicative of Fever:
  • sweating
  • shivering
  • headache
  • muscle aches
  • loss of appetite
  • dehydration
  • general weakness
  • hallucinations
  • confusion
  • irritability
  • convulsions
It is possible that Fever shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Fever

The following are the most common causes of Fever:
  • infections such as cold, throat infection, gastroenteritis, ear infection
  • inflammatory disorders
  • extreme sunburn
  • heat exhaustion
  • malignant tumor
  • immunizations

Other Causes of Fever

The following are the less common causes of Fever:
  • use of certain medications such as antibiotics and anti epileptic drugs
  • teething
  • thrombophlebitis

Risk Factors for Fever

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Fever:
  • weakened immune system

Prevention of Fever

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Fever. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • reducing exposure to infectious diseases
  • wash hands thoroughly
  • using hand sanitizer
  • try to cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing

Occurrence of Fever

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Fever cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Fever can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Fever can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Fever

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Fever:
  • Blood tests: To determine the cause of fever
  • Chest x-ray: To diagnose the cause of fever
  • Urinalysis: To know the cause of the fever

Doctor for Diagnosis of Fever

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Fever:
  • General practitioner
  • Family doctor
  • Pediatrician

Complications of Fever if untreated

Yes, Fever causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Fever is left untreated:
  • severe dehydration
  • hallucinations
  • febrile seizure

Medicines for Fever

Below is the list of medicines used for Fever:

Self-care for Fever

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Fever:
  • Drink plenty of fluids: Prevents fluid loss and dehydration
  • Take proper rest: Helps in recovering you from fever

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Fever

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Fever:
  • Take lukewarm bath or sponge bath: Helps in lowering the fever

Time for Treatment of Fever

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Fever to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Within 1 week

Is Fever Infectious?

Yes, Fever is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
  • direct contact

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 12/12/2020.
This page provides information for Fever.

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