Fever

Fever

The average person's normal body temperature hovers around 98.6 degrees. Some people's baseline temperature may rise up or down by a degree or so, but it rarely ventures past that point unless something is wrong. A heightened body temperature is referred to as a fever or pyrexia, and it's a common symptom of many different illnesses and infections.

Infections of all kinds can trigger a fever. Some of the most common causes are pathogens like cold and flu viruses, but bacterial illnesses, inflamed organs, impacted teeth and infected wounds can all cause fevers. In general, viral infections will have higher fevers that peak and subside rapidly, while bacterial infections will tend to have lower temperatures that last for a longer period.

Aside from high body temperature, fever may be accompanied by several symptoms:

-- Chills and shivering
-- Excessive sweating
-- Damp, clammy skin or skin that's hot to the touch
-- Confusion and delirium
-- Convulsions (in severe cases)

Any temperature above the patient's normal body temperature but below 100.4 F is considered a "low-grade" fever and is not generally anything to worry about. A fever above 100.4 degrees becomes medically significant, and the fever becomes more dangerous the higher it goes. Temperatures above 104 are a medical emergency and require immediate treatment as they can trigger convulsions and cause brain damage if not dealt with swiftly. This is especially true in infants and children, who are prone to this type of febrile seizure.

Most minor fevers can be treated at home with Tylenol and other acetaminophen-based painkillers and fever-reducing cold medicines that use acetaminophen as an active ingredient. Keeping warm and drinking plenty of fluids will also offset the symptoms of a prolonged fever.

Fever is one of your body's natural defenses against illness. It plays a helpful role in making your body inhospitable to germs, but it can also become a medical emergency in its own right if it becomes too severe. It's also a sign of illness and should be taken seriously if it lasts for more than a day or two or goes very high. Persistent or serious fevers should always be addressed by a medical professional.