What you need to know about fever

A fever is a common medical condition when your body temperature rises above 36° Centigrade or 98° Fahrenheit. The medical terms for fever are controlled hyperthermia and pyrexia. Fevers are often accompanied by headache, chills and body ache. A fever is generally a symptom of an underlying condition. Your body raises its temperature when it is fighting off an infection. In most cases, fevers subside on their own after a brief period of time, but it is important to see a doctor if your fever persists for more than couple of days.

What are the symptoms of a fever?

A fever in itself is a symptom of another condition, but it can present itself through certain signs, such as:

• Feeling cold or shivering
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Increased sensitivity to pain or hyperalgesia
• Sleepiness
• Lethargy
• Sweating
• Depression
• Confusion or problems with concentration
• Irritability
• Seizures
• Delirium

What are the causes of fever?

These are the most common factors that can cause fever:

• Infections such as chicken pox, pneumonia, flu, strep throat, urinary infections etc.
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other auto immune diseases
• Dehydration
• Overexposure to sunlight, heat stroke or sunburn
• Drug abuse
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Reaction to certain medication

How are fevers treated?

If you have a mild-to-moderate fever, your doctor will prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or paracetamol to bring your temperature down. In case the fever has been brought on by a bacterial infection, you may need to take antibiotics. If the cause is a viral infection and you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, antibiotics will not help. If your fever persists for more than two days or if your body temperature is higher than 38° Centigrade or 100.4° Fahrenheit, contact your doctor immediately.

If you are suffering from a fever, you should remember to consume plenty of fluids to keep dehydration at bay. Your body is working hard to stay healthy and dehydration can complicate the situation.