A fever is also known as a "high body temperature" but it isn't an illness or disease by itself. Rather, it's a symptom of an underlying condition, usually an infection. Most commonly, fevers are associated with some manner of physical discomfort, and people generally start to feel better when the fever is treated. Depending on your physical condition, age, and the underlying cause of your fever, you might not need any specific medical treatment for that issue alone. Many experts believe that a fever is a natural response of the body that makes it easier for it to fight back against the infection. However, there are also certain causes of fever that aren't necessarily linked to an infection at all.
Fever Signs and Symptoms:
A fever isn't generally considered to be dangerous, a body temperature that is too high can cause some problems. Sometimes, this occurs as a result of an extreme temperature rise that's associated with a heat-based injury such as the side effects of certain medications, heat stroke, or actual stroke. In the case of hyperthermia, the body simply cannot control body temperature any longer. In children with fever, additional symptoms such as fussiness, lethargy, problems with appetite, and sore throats might also be seen. Some of the accompanying signs of a fever might also range from ear pain and coughs, to diarrhea and vomiting. A high fever can also result into convulsions. It's important to describe all of the symptoms of a fever to your doctor.
Causes of a Fever:
A part of the brain known as the "hypothalamus" is the area responsible for controlling body temperature, which can vary drastically throughout the day. The normal temperature of the body is usually around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in the case of a fever, the body is usually responding to an underlying issue, which is an illness or an infection, which causes the hypothalamus to raise the entire body to a higher temperature. Though the most common causes of fever include common infections like gastroenteritis and colds, other causes might include:
– Infections of the lungs, skin, ear, bladder, throat, or kidney
– Conditions responsible for swelling or inflammation
– Medication side effects
– Cancer
– Vaccines
– Blood clots – though the heat is usually focused in the area of the clot
– Autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
– Hormone disorders like hyperthyroidism
– Illegal drug use such as the use of cocaine or amphetamines
In certain situations, the causes of a fever may gradually rectify themselves, and therefore the fever will begin to disappear without any kind of specialist treatment. Treatments, however, can vary according to the cause or reason behind the fever. For instance, in bacterial infections such as strep throat, your doctor will often ask you to take a course of antibiotics that are designed to remove the infection from your system.
Fever Treatment:
The most common treatments used for fever will usually include over-the-counter medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen. Teenagers and children should be cautious about the kinds of medications that they take, and anyone with a fever should speak to a doctor before attempting to self-diagnose and cure the condition with medications that they may find at home, or over the counter.