FEVER

Fever is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Technically, any body temperature above the normal oral measurement of 98.6^oF (37^oC) or the normal rectal temperature of 99^oF (37.2^oC) is considered to be elevated. However, these are averages, and your normal temperature may actually be 1^oF (0.6^oC) or more, above or below the average of 98.6^oF. Body temperature can also vary up to 1^oF (0.6^oC) throughout the day.

Thus, fever is not considered medically significant until body temperature is above 100.4^oF (38^oC). Fever serves as one of the body's natural defenses against bacteria and viruses that cannot live at a higher temperature. For that reason, low fevers should normally go untreated, unless accompanied by troubling symptoms.

A feverish individual has a general feeling of cold despite an increased body temperature, and increases in heart rate, muscle tone and shivering, all of which are caused by the body's attempts to counteract the newly-perceived hypothermia and reach the new thermoregulatory set-point

Fevers of 104^oF (40^oC) or higher demand immediate home treatment and subsequent medical attention, as they can result in delirium and convulsions, particularly in children.

Normal human body temperature through oral measurement is 36.8±0.7^oC (98.2±1.3^oF).

Children develop higher temperatures with activities like playing, but this is not fever because their set-point is normal. Elderly patients may have a decreased ability to generate body heat during a fever, so even a low-grade fever can have serious underlying causes in geriatrics.

Different locations in the body from which temperature can be measured:-

1. Armpit
2. Mouth, under the tongue
3. Eardrum
4. Anus

Types

According to one common rule of thumb, fever is generally classified for convenience as an anal (core) temperature of:

The last is a medical emergency, because it approaches the upper limit compatible with human life. If the temperature is taken by another route (mouth, ear, armpit), then the reading needs to be converted to the equivalent core body temperature.

Causes

Fever is a common symptom of many medical conditions:

• Infectious diseases, e.g. influenza, HIV, malaria, infectious mononucleosis, or gastroenteritis
• Various skin inflammations, e.g. boils, pimples, acne, or abscess
• Immunological diseases, e.g. lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel diseases
• Tissue destruction, which can occur in hemolysis, surgery, infarction, crush syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.
• Drug-induced fevers
• Directly caused by the drug, e.g. lamictal, progesterone, or chemotherapeutics causing tumor necrosis
• As an adverse reaction to drugs, e.g. antibiotics or sulfa drugs.
• After drug discontinuation, e.g. heroin or fentanyl withdrawal
• Reaction to incompatible blood products
• Cancers, most commonly renal cancer and leukemia and lymphomas
• Metabolic disorders, e.g. gout or porphyria
• Thrombo-embolic processes, e.g. pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis
• Persistent fever which cannot be explained after repeated routine clinical inquiries, is called fever of unknown origin.

Treatment

Fever should necessarily be taken into consideration as it indicates that there is something wrong in the body.

1. Fluid intake must be increased in fever to avoid dehydration.
2. The cause has to be found out and that has to be treated.
3. In cases of hyperpyrexia, a cold wet cloth must be kept on the forehead to decrease fever.
4. Homeopathy- Homoeopathic medicines act marvelously in treating fever. The selection of medicines must be based on symptom similarity. This will also help in treating the cause/s.

What is the best cure for fever in Bangalore ?

What is the best fever treatment in Bangalore ?

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