How to measure and lower fever

Body temperature rises as a reaction to invasion by rhinoviruses, but it can also be caused by countless other factors.

Fever is an increase in the internal temperature of the body above 37°C, which is considered the normal level.

It often makes us worry, but it is rarely a dangerous condition, unless it appears in very young children, lasts more than three days, or is excessively high.

When our body is under attack from an infection, such as a cold virus, it reacts by raising the internal temperature.

To control everything is a specific center that is located in the hypothalamus, an area within our brain. It is he who transmits to the rest of the body the signals that lead to an increase in temperature.

How to measure fever

Our temperature is measured with the appropriate thermometers, in different areas of the body. Depending on the location, temperature limits considered normal vary.

The following scheme may help:

Without forgetting that there are also physiological variations in our temperature: for example, in the morning it is generally lower, while in the evening it reaches the highest value.

The causes of fever

There are many conditions and diseases that can cause fever.

• Infections. They are the most common cause of fever, and can be both bacterial and viral, such as colds.
• 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.

How to lower fever

Not all cases of fever require treatment. In fact, in addition to being an important indicator with which the body warns us that something is wrong, fever can be useful because both bacteria and viruses, such as those that cause colds, struggle to replicate at high temperatures. It also increases the amount of interferon in the blood which also has antiviral activity.

However, fever causes discomfort, increases heart rate and, in young children, can give seizures.

For these reasons, antipyretic drugs can be used.

When to call your doctor

The doctor should always be called in the case of infants less than three months old. Older children and adults, if they show no signs of severe distress, should only rest and stay well hydrated until fever rises above 39°C. Exceeded this limit it should be treated with antipyretics.

The doctor should still be called if a child does not respond to medications or if he is particularly irritable or dejected. Or if an adult has a stiff neck, a severe headache , or a fever that remains consistently high for more than three days.