Body temperature rises in the presence of influenza viruses, but fever can also be caused by other factors.
Fever is defined as an increase in the internal temperature of the body above 37°C, considered the normal level.
An increase in temperature can be a concern, but it is rarely a dangerous condition unless it appears in very young children, lasts more than three days, or is excessively high.
When the body is under attack by viruses, such as flu, it reacts by raising the core temperature.
To regulate everything is a specific center that is located in the hypothalamus, an area of our brain. It is the hypothalamus that transmits to the body the signals that increase heat.
Measuring fever
The temperature can be calculated, with special thermometers, in different areas of the body. Depending on the location, the temperature limits considered normal vary. The following scheme may help:
- for rectal measurements, or in the ear a temperature of 37.6 ° C is considered normal while we speak of fever at 38 ° C
- for measurements performed in the mouth, a temperature of 36.8 ° C is considered normal while we speak of fever at 37.5 ° C
- for measurements performed in the armpit, a temperature of 36.4 ° C is considered normal and we speak of fever at 37.2 ° C.
We must also take into account the fact that there are physiological variations in our temperature: for example, in the morning it is generally lower, while in the evening it reaches the highest value.
Causes of fever
- Infections. They are the most common cause of fever and can be both bacterial and viral, such as influenza.
- Injuries. Both mechanical trauma, burns or other injuries caused by diseases such as heart attack and stroke produce tissue damage that causes fever.
- Hemorrhages. Any condition that causes bleeding, including surgery, induces fever.
- Other diseases. All inflammatory states, both acute and chronic, are accompanied by a rise in temperature.
Lower fever
Not all cases of fever require treatment. In fact, an increase in temperature can be useful because bacteria and viruses, such as flu, struggle to replicate at high temperatures.
Fever also increases the amount of interferon in the blood which also has antiviral activity.
Since fever often causes discomfort and increases heart rate, it can be treated with antipyretic drugs, such as acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol which, however, also act on the other symptoms of the flu.
Drug treatment of fever varies depending on age. The doctor should always be called in case the fever appears in infants up to three months of age.
Older children and adults, if they do not show signs of severe distress, should only rest and stay well hydrated until the fever exceeds 39 ° C.
Higher temperatures should be treated with antipyretics. The doctor should be called anyway if a child does not respond to medication or if he or she is particularly irritable or dejected, or if an adult has neck stiffness, severe headache, or if the fever remains consistently high for more than three days.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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