About Fever (Pyrexia)

What causes Fever

Fever or Pyrexia is defined as an elevation of the body temperature that exceeds the normal daily variation of 36.5°C -37.5 °C or (97.7°F -99.5°F). 98.6° F (37° C) is usually considered a normal body temperature

Types of Fever

Fever is classified based on the duration and height of the temperature

1. Based on Duration of Fever

Classification of fever based on the duration

Types	Duration	Disorders
Acute	<7 days	› Malaria › Viral
Subacute	Up to 2 weeks	Typhoid fever
Chronic	>2 weeks	Tuberculosis

2. Based on Height of Temperature

Classification of fever based on temperature height

Temperature	Fahrenheit (°F)
Mild/low-grade fever	100.5–102.2
Moderate grade fever	102.2–104.0
High-grade fever	104.1–106.0
Hyperpyrexia	>106.0

Causes of Fever

Any substance that induces fever is called a pyrogen.

The disorders that may cause fever are

Infectious Diseases (Viral, bacterial, fungal (most common cause))
- Respiratory tract infections
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin infections
- Malaria
Inflammatory conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
Cancer
Physiological stress
Environmental Factor
- Heatstroke
Drugs
- Cocaine, Amphetamines, etc

What are the symptoms

Shivering
Lack of appetite and generalized weakness & malaise
Sleepiness
Headache
Inability to concentrate

Warning Signs of Fever

Temperature >103^oF
Shortness of breath
Mental clouding
Persistent headache
Fever does not subside in 48 hrs

Diagnostic Evaluation

dentifying the cause of fever by doing lab tests can help treat the patient better.

CBC (complete blood count )
Blood cultures/ Widal test
Chest x-ray
Urinalysis and urine culture

Treatment at Home

Take adequate rest
Wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating
Consume Plenty of fluids ( fresh fruit juices, glucose, etc) to avoid dehydration
OTC drugs such as paracetamol/ibuprofen effectively reduce fever
Talk to a doctor for the best course of treatment