Free Essay

Fever

In:

Submitted By genZ
Words 271
Pages 2
What is a fever?

Fever refers to an elevation in body temperature. Technically, any body temperature above the normal oral measurement of 98.6 F (37 C) or the normal rectal temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) is considered to be elevated. However, these are averages, and one's normal body temperature may actually be 1 F (0.6 C) or more above or below the average of 98.6 F. Body temperature can also vary up to 1 F (0.6 C) throughout the day.

Fever is not considered medically significant until body temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Anything above normal but below 100.4 F (38 C) is considered a low-grade fever. Fever serves as one of the body's natural defenses against bacteria and viruses which cannot live at a higher temperature. For that reason, low fevers should normally go untreated, unless accompanied by troubling symptoms.

Also, the body's defense mechanisms seem to work more efficiently at a higher temperature. Fever is just one part of an illness, many times no more important than the presence of other symptoms such as cough, sore throat, fatigue, joint pains or aches, chills, nausea, etc.

Fevers of 104 F (40 C) or higher demand immediate home treatment and subsequent medical attention, as they can result in delirium and convulsions, particularly in infants and children.

Fever should not be confused with hyperthermia, which is a defect in your body's response to heat (thermoregulation), which can also raise the body temperature. This is usually caused by external sources such as being in a hot environment.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Typhoid Fever

...Leggett Dr. Marcellus Grace, R.Ph., Ph.D. HMLS 6150 October 21, 2013 Potential Exposure to Typhoid Fever on American Airlines Flight from Miami to New Orleans Introduction On October 15, 2012, an American Airlines flight from Miami to New Orleans was held for two hours on the tarmac at Louis Armstrong International Airport after a passenger suggested to the flight crew that she might have been exposed to typhoid fever. In my analysis and critique of this event, I will discuss the typhoid fever, its symptoms and effects, the response from both the Louis Armstrong International Airport emergency response personnel and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the “What if?” scenario if it actually was a legitimate typhoid fever diagnosis. Typhoid Fever Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 5,700 cases occur annually. Most cases (up to 75%) are acquired while traveling internationally. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year. (CDC) You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding Salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where handwashing is less frequent and water is likely to be contaminated...

Words: 1891 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Typhoid Fever

...Leggett Dr. Marcellus Grace, R.Ph., Ph.D. HMLS 6150 October 21, 2013 Potential Exposure to Typhoid Fever on American Airlines Flight from Miami to New Orleans Introduction On October 15, 2012, an American Airlines flight from Miami to New Orleans was held for two hours on the tarmac at Louis Armstrong International Airport after a passenger suggested to the flight crew that she might have been exposed to typhoid fever. In my analysis and critique of this event, I will discuss the typhoid fever, its symptoms and effects, the response from both the Louis Armstrong International Airport emergency response personnel and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the “What if?” scenario if it actually was a legitimate typhoid fever diagnosis. Typhoid Fever Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 5,700 cases occur annually. Most cases (up to 75%) are acquired while traveling internationally. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year. (CDC) You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding Salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where handwashing is less frequent and water is likely to be contaminated...

Words: 1891 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Dengue Fever

...Dengue (pronounced DENgee) fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection andyellow fever.An estimated 390 dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 million resulting in illness. Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, with the greatest risk occurring in:*.The Indian subcontinent*.Southeast Asia*.Southern China*.Taiwan*.The Pacific Islands*.The Caribbean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands)*.Mexico*.Africa*.Central and South America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina)Most cases in the United States occur in people who contracted the infection while traveling abroad. But the risk is increasing for people living along the Texas-Mexico border and in other parts of the southern United States. In 2009, an outbreak of dengue fever was identified in Key West, Fla.Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in theirblood. It can’t be spread directly fromone person to another person.Symptoms of Dengue FeverSymptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include*.Sudden,high fever*.Severeheadaches*.Pain behind theeyes*.Severe joint andmuscle pain*.Fatigue*.Nausea*.Vomiting*.Skin rash, which appears two to five daysafter the onset of fever*.Mild bleeding (such a nose...

Words: 704 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Pathophysiology of Typhoid Fever

...CLINICAL MANIFESTATION (Onset): * Headache * Chilly sensation * Aching all over the body * Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea * Fever is higher in the morning than it was in the afternoon * Breathing is accelerated * Furred tongue * Skin is dry & hot * Abdomen is distended & tender * Rose spots appear on the abdominal wall on 7th & 9th day * On the second week symptoms become more aggravated CLINICAL MANIFESTATION (Onset): * Headache * Chilly sensation * Aching all over the body * Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea * Fever is higher in the morning than it was in the afternoon * Breathing is accelerated * Furred tongue * Skin is dry & hot * Abdomen is distended & tender * Rose spots appear on the abdominal wall on 7th & 9th day * On the second week symptoms become more aggravated Patient’s manifestations Patient’s manifestations Signs & Symptoms Signs & Symptoms Process Process LEGEND LEGEND Typhoid Fever Typhoid Fever Macrophages & intestinal epithelial cells attract T cells & Neutrophils w/ interleukin 8 causing inflammation of the intestinal wall Macrophages & intestinal epithelial cells attract T cells & Neutrophils w/ interleukin 8 causing inflammation of the intestinal wall Toxins are injected into the intestinal cells Toxins are injected into the intestinal cells Peyer’s patches Peyer’s patches Bacteria...

Words: 495 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Yellow Fever

...Yellow Fever Mersadez Polendo Medical Terminology – HLHS 101 April 9, 2015 Marleen Miller Abstract Fevers, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains and headaches; all of these symptoms just from a little bite by a female mosquito. Only affecting humans, other mammals, and even more species of mosquitoes. The disease is hard to point out from other flus, especially in the beginning stages. Some people get better within a week period. Some of those who improve in a day think it’s all over but then the fever returns as the pains do. Damage is caused to liver which can only mean the virus is getting worse. I choose this topic because it caught my attention and as I read about it I was intrigued more. I never knew about this virus so I thought about learning something new. Yellow Fever In the article Yellow Fever introduction explains at one time Yellow fever was the scariest diseases. A wide spread of vaccinations successfully making the virus under control for about 40 years and more in the mid-20s. Although late 1980s it returned putting risk in the West and Central Africa (The Yellow fever initative: an introduction, 2015). Yellow fever is transmitted from a bite of a mosquito in jungles and tropical rainforests. Another word for the Yellow fever is Yellow Jack or Black Vomit. The yellow that in the name is from jaundice which affects most patients. This disease is the first disease that which an insect is who vector carried this infectious disease. The virus...

Words: 1531 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Ped Fever 2009

...Pediatric Fever Problem-Based Curriculum for the Chief Complaint of Pediatric Fever Curriculum Goals: 1. Gather accurate, essential information in a timely manner specific to the chief complaint of pediatric fever. 2. Learn the bacteriology, virology, pathophysiology, presentation, and management of common conditions that cause the pediatric fever. 3. Develop skill in the performance of a screening and detailed clinical evaluation for patients with pediatric fever. 4. Competently perform specific diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with pediatric fever. 5. Effectively utilize diagnostic imaging modalities available for the evaluation of pediatric fever. 6. Integrate diagnostic information and generate an appropriate differential diagnosis for the chief complaint pediatric fever. 7. Stabilize and provide initial treatment for diseases and injuries that cause pediatric fever. 8. Implement an effective patient management plan, including therapy, appropriate consultation, disposition, and patient education for patients with pediatric fever. 9. Locate, appraise, and utilize current scientific evidence related to pediatric fever. 10. Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care for patients with pediatric fever. Curriculum Objectives: Upon completion of an emergency medicine residency, the resident will be able to: 1. Demonstrate both a targeted, and a complete, physical examination on...

Words: 310 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Dengue Fever

... ‘Dengue.' Name Institution Tutor Course Introduction Dengue fever is considered as the fastest emerging viral infection which is spread by the female mosquito “Aedes aegypti.” ( Fever,2011). The disease has caused major health effects in many tropical and sub-tropical countries in Asia, Western Pacific and Central and South America ( Fever,2011).The disease causes flu-like illness which develops into serious complication which is called dengue haemorrhagic ( DHF). The disease has grown drastically over the decades, and it has affected approximately 2.7 billion people globally. Most of the population affected about 75% is that from Asia and Pacific region. With the changing disease epidemiology, the outbreaks of the disease are increasing as the disease is spreading to new areas. The disease mostly affects children under five years of age. Approximately 50-60 million cases of dengue fever occur annually worldwide, and half of the infected population require medical attention every year ( Fever,2011). The disease also causes deaths to about 3 % of the population affected by dengue fever. Dengue fever has no specific treatment, but early detection and proper medical attention will save patients’ lives. The disease is a major epidemic in Africa in the World Health Organizations regions. Prevention and control of this disease will depend on how the vectors will be monitored effectively. Vaccine for the dengue fever has been authorized to areas experiencing this kind of illness...

Words: 1948 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Q Fever Research Paper

...Q Fever is an uncommon febrile, pneumonia-like illness that is most often contracted by people whose occupations bring them in contact with infected farm animals. A tiny gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii is the agent that causes Q fever. It’s usually classified with other intracellular parasites known as Rickettsia. Coxiella is the only member of this group that does not need an arthropod vector for transmission. Cases of Q fever are most frequently reported from western and plains states where ranching and rearing of cattle are common. Q fever was first described as a disease among workers in a meat packing plant, the letter Q in the name of the disease derives from the word “query,” meaning “unknown origin,” although the Q probably also refers to Queensland, the Australian province in which the packing plant was...

Words: 964 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Yellow Fever

...Yellow Fever June 7, 1855, the Benjamin Franklin boat pulled into the Fort Norfolk port from St. Thomas. Seaman let out a dangerous disease that would change the lives of the people of Norfolk and Portsmouth forever. The seaman asked to dock the boat there but the safety protector would not let them. The persons who died on the ship had a suspicious story to them. They said one died of a heart attack and the other one dies of natural causes. After many days of asking the safety inspector for the ships to pull into port he finally allowed them to. They let them dock their boat but specifically said do not let their waste go into the water just in case there was something on the boat. The men on the boat worked on the ship but mistakenly let the bowl go so all of the ship’s waste was let out. Unknowingly, they let out a deadly disease called Yellow fever. With this area being surrounded by water and it being its main resource, the disease spread like wild fire. The host for this disease was a mosquito that carried the disease, Aedes aegypti. The mosquito lived in the water in every feature of the boat. Since the boat was going to New York, the city was informed about the disease and New York declared this area infected and would let the boat come to their port. The town council of the Metropolitan area banned anyone in the area from coming to the North Carolina area in fear of spreading the disease. The epidemic got so bad that the people started to go crazy. They burned the...

Words: 619 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Rheumatic Fever

...Rheumatic Fever Rheumatic fever is common worldwide and is responsible for many cases of damaged heart valves. . Although the disease seldom occurs, it is serious and has a mortality of 2 - 5%. Rheumatic fever primarily affects children between ages six and 15 and occurs approximately 20 days after strep throat or scarlet fever. The recurrence of rheumatic fever is relatively common in the absence of maintenance of low dose antibiotics, especially during the first three to five years after the first episode of rheumatic fever. Heart complications may be long-term and severe, particularly if the heart valves are involved. Diagnosis: Modified Jones Criteria Two major criteria, or one major and two minor criteria, when there is also evidence of a previous strep infection support the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. Major Criteria: • Carditis: inflammation of the heart muscle which can manifest as congestive heart failure with shortness of breath, pericarditis with a rub, or a new heart murmur. • Migratory polyarthritis: a temporary migrating inflammation of the large joints, usually starting in the legs and migrating upwards. • Sydenham's chorea (St. Vitus' dance): a characteristic series of rapid movements without purpose of the face and arms. This can occur very late in the disease. • Erythema marginatum: a long lasting rash that begins on the trunk or arms as macules and spread outward to form a snakelike ring while clearing in the middle. This rash...

Words: 498 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Fever Book Report

...book Fever is a book about the struggle of a young girl named Mattie. She lives with her mother and grandfather,but her father died when she was 3. A bad plague breaks out in Pennsylvania killing many leaving few to survive and live. The food supplies are fading,there is no safe place. Mattie turns to other places to live,but there are limited places that will let them in. Her mother gets the plague and tells Mattie and her grandfather to leave to the Ludington's farm. But before they get there Mattie's grandfather suddenly comes down with the fever. They later are at Bush Hill,where Mattie gets over the fever and her grandfather turns out not to have the plague. After they recovered,they returned to the coffeehouse and see that it has been robbed. One night,Mattie gets too hot and opens a window,but in the middle of the night robbers come in and try to rob the place. After Mattie chases them,away she comes back and see's her grandfather died. She moves in with Eliza and her family,where she helps out with cooking and cleaning. Eliza's brother's kids get the fever and they take them to the coffeehouse and Eliza says that once the first frost comes the plague will be gone. When the first frost finally comes they take the kids outside to heal and within a few hours they are cured. Everybody comes back into town....

Words: 561 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

By Evening, She Was Running a High Fever ...

...log cabin. Once it was occupied by a young couple who wanted to distance themselves from the chaos of this modern world. Here they were miles away from the nearest town. Bob, the husband, made the occasional trip into town to buy supplies whereas Jan, his wife, spent her free time by the fire, sewing. Their life was simply idyllic. Then, one midwinter's day, Jan woke up from bed with a strange ache in her bones. Putting it down to overwork, Bob shooed her to bed and made sure she rested. Though Jan was impatient to get to her chores, Bob soothed her, "Relax, Sugar. You're overdoing things. All these chores will be here when you recover." However, Jan seemed to be getting worse instead of recovering. By evening, she was running a high fever and in greater pain. In spite of his best efforts, Bob could not manage to ease her suffering. And then suddenly, she started to lapse into unconsciousness. It was then obvious that she was seriously ill. What could Bob do? He had no experience in treating the sick and Jan was getting worse by the minute. He knew that there was an old doctor in town but he lived three miles away, downhill. Pot-bellied and obese, there was no way the doctor could make it up to their cabin. Something had to be done quickly! Bob racked his brains but to no avail. The only thing left to do was to go to the doctor. In Jan's condition, she could never walk that far in the waist-deep snow. Bob would have to carry her! Bob searched his mind for a way to...

Words: 580 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Fever of Unknown Origin

...FEVER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN Definition: - Fever higher than 38.3C on several occasions - Duration of fever at least three weeks - Uncertain diagnosis after one week of study in hospital or - Temp >38.5 - Duration > 2 weeks - Undiagnosed Etiology 1. Noninfectious inflammatory disease - Adult Still’s disease: daily fevers, arthritis, evanescent rash - Giant cell arteritis: headache, loss of vision, symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, fever, anemia, high ESR, jaw claudication - Polyarteritis nodosa - Takayasu’s arteritis - Wegener’s - Mixed cryoglobulinemia - Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism - Hematoma - Hyperthyroid, acute thyroiditis - Pheochromocytoma, adrenal insufficiency - Alcoholic hepatitis: fever, hepatomegaly, jaundice, anorexia, 2. Infection - Tuberculosis: most common infection in FUO, PPD positive in 90% of FUO infective endocarditis - Rare infections: leptospirosis, psittacosis, tularemia, melioidosis, secondary syphilis, disseminated gonoccocemia, chronic meningococcemia, visceral leishmaniasis, whipples disease, yersiniosis 3. Malignancy - Lymphoma, especially NHL - Leukemia - Renal cell carcinoma: microscopic hematuria, - Hepatocellular carcinoma - Myelodysplastic syndromes - Multiple myeloma - Atrial myxomas: arthralgia, emboli, hyperglobulinemia 4. Miscellaneous - Drug fever: stimulate an allergic or idiosyncratic reaction, affecting thermoregulation (sulfonamides, penicillins, nitrofurantoin, vancomycin, antimalarials...

Words: 532 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Tawa Tawa as Cure for Dengue Fever

...Chapter I: The Introduction A. Introduction Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that has become a major international public health concern. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), a potentially lethal complication, was first recognized in the 1950’s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand. DHF affects most Asian countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children. There are four distinct, but closely related, viruses that cause dengue. Recovery from infection by one provides lifelong immunity against that virus but confers only partial and transient protection against subsequent infection by the other three viruses. Sequential infection increases the risk of developing DHF.1 1 “Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever,” World Health Organization, March 2009, 15 Oct. 2011 <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en>. 2 There is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat DHF. For typical dengue, the immediate concern is the relief of symptoms. Adequate fluid intake for proper body hydration and rest is important. All else will depend on the person’s immune system. However, since the Philippines is abundant with herbal medicines, the Tawa Tawa is being touted as an alternative cure to DHF. The Tawa Tawa is described as having numerous flowers which measures about 5 to 8 centimeters each with...

Words: 1554 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Dengue Fever Case Study

...1.1. Background Information Aedes mosquitoes are the vectors that cause the mosquito-borne disease such as Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). The cases of dengue are keeping increasing from time to time and this has made it become a serious international concern. Initially, in the 1950’s only 5 countries documented dengue but up until now the dengue cases were reported in more than 100 countries (Guha –Sapi & Schimmer, 2005). Dengue can be transferred when the mosquitoes infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes known as DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4 (WHO, 2014). There is no vaccine or any exact medication to treat dengue. In Malaysia, dengue fever cases are not something bizarre. Selangor is one of the states that had reported with high...

Words: 10075 - Pages: 41