Unlike what many people think and believe, fever is not an illness or medical condition but rather an indicator to an underlying disease or illness. It is a natural response of our body when something is wrong and our immune system is trying its best to identify and eliminate the cause of the underlying illness.
An interesting fact about the mechanism of fever is, when the immune system identifies an infection in the body, it sends signals to the hypothalamus to increase the temperature in the body above the normal level to combat the infection. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating and maintaining the body’s temperature.
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1. What is a fever?
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, fever is a state when the temperature elevated above the normal level due to an underlying condition. An increase in the temperature for a short time is considered normal and does not require any medical intervention. It is actually considered beneficial for the body in its fight against any infection. But an increase in the temperature that is beyond normal—something called high or severe fever — does require medical attention at the earliest.
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2. Common causes of fever
A fever occurs when a microbe or a malicious microorganism such as a bacterium, virus, fungi, or parasite enters into the body. Depending on what caused the infection, the symptoms and treatment will differ, such as whether it is bacterial or viral infection. Fever by itself is not contagious, until it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
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3. Symptoms of fevers
Some of the most common symptoms of a fever are:
- Body temperature greater than 100.4°F or 38°C
- General weakness in the body
- Aching muscles and joint pain
- Feeling unusually cold, leading to chills, shivering, and shaking
- Sweating and sometimes sweating excessively
- Feeling lightheaded and dizzy
- Loss of appetite
- Having a sore throat, coughing, and earache
- Dehydration
- Having trouble sleeping or sleeplessness
Once a person has been successfully diagnosed, the doctor will proceed with administering an appropriate and effective treatment. Your doctor may advise over the counter prescription medication, in order to bring down the temperature and its symptoms, and by helping in fighting the infection.
