What is Fever?

The normal temperature of the human body is 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit and the condition of increases more than this is called fever. In medical parlance, it is also known as hyperthermia and pyrexia. The body usually raises body temperature to fight bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other pathogens, which is a normal process.

The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that regulates body temperature. In such a situation, when the body comes in contact with any kind of infection or other pathogens, it raises the body temperature as a process of fighting it. According to medical science, when your body temperature rises, it indicates an infection or disease.

Types of Fever:

Types of fever are classified according to their severity. According to medical science, the major types of fever are as follows –

• Low-grade fever – This is the most common type of fever, in which the body temperature remains in the range of 100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
• High-grade fever – If the body temperature is 103 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the condition is classified as high-grade fever.
• Dangerous grade fever – This is the deadliest type of fever, in which the body temperature rises to 104 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. This usually indicates some serious internal disease.

However, according to the nature of the fever, it is divided into several other types, which usually include:

• Sustained fever – This type of fever lasts for a long time and in this, the body temperature is continuously increased
• Remittance fever – In this, the body temperature keeps on increasing and decreasing repeatedly.
• Intermittent fever – This fever comes again and again, in which the body temperature becomes normal, and sometimes it increases.

Fever Symptoms:

The most prominent symptom of fever is an increase in body temperature and it can develop as a symptom of other diseases as well. However, some other symptoms can also be seen along with fever, which usually depend on the health problems causing it –

• Body Tremors
• Chills
• Body Pain
• Headache
• Sweating
• Cough
• Running nose
• Low appetite
• Lack of water in the body
• Muscle cramps
• Cecreased ability to tolerate pain
• Loss of energy (feeling weak)
• Drowsiness
• Inability to concentrate
• Having nightmares
• Seizure

If your body temperature is increasing or you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, then you should go to the doctor as soon as possible without delay at all. This is because having any of the above symptoms along with a high fever can indicate a serious problem.

Fever Causes:

Fever occurs when the hypothalamus raises the normal body temperature. There can be a number of health conditions that cause the hypothalamus to raise the body temperature. These health problems include –

• Colds, flu, pneumonia, and other infections
• Certain types of vaccinations such as diphtheria, tetanus, and COVID-19
• Baby teething
• Diseases related to inflammation and redness, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease
• Blood clotting
• Become severely sunburned
• Lung disease
• Certain types of cancer such as Hodgkin’s disease
• Heat stroke
• Lack of water in the body
• Taking narcotics (or the discomfort after quitting may be accompanied by a fever)

Prevention of Fever:

To prevent fever, it is very important to prevent the conditions that cause it. As you know, in most of cases fever is caused due to bacterial or viral infection, which can be prevented with the help of the following –

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after having meals, using the restroom, and coming home from outside.
• Carry a hand sanitizer with you if you are outside and cannot wash your hands frequently.
• Give up the habit of touching your mouth, nose, eyes, or ears frequently, by doing so bacteria and other pathogens can enter your body.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or cloth while coughing and sneezing. If you don’t have a cloth or handkerchief, sneeze into the elbow.
• Get all vaccinations done in time and keep checking your health from time to time with the doctor.
• Consume nutrient-rich foods and drinks and eat only after cooking to reduce the risk of food poisoning. keep food covered.

Diagnosis of Fever:

To diagnose fever, the first physical examination is done, during which your body temperature is checked and along with some questions related to the symptoms are asked. Although doctors detect the body temperature by touching the patient, however, a device called a thermometer is used to find the stage of fever. There are generally three types of thermometers :

• Digital thermometer
• Temporal thermometer
• Temporal artery thermometer