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Everyone has had a faver, Everyone gets a fever ever so often. What should you do about it – if anything? There is a lot of confusion about the best way to handle a fever, so let’s clear up all that confusion right here, right now.
Normal Temp
The body’s normal temperature is not necessarily 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.7 degrees Celsius. Rather, there is a “range of normal” verying from 96.8 to 100 degrees orally. A rectal temperature is one degree higher than oral; an axillary or underarm temperature is one degree lower. For any individual there is a temperature cycle or two to three degrees during a 24 hour period. With the highest temperature usually occurring in late afternoon, and the lowest in the early morning hours.
Factor suc as external cod or warmth, exercise, and activity also influence body temperature, especially in infants and children. The reading of oral thermometer is also influenced by the recent intake of cold or hot food or fluids, by smoking, or by inability to hold the mouth closed.
The normal range of temperature is maintained by a balace between heat PRODUCED in the body and heat LOST by the body.
When this balance of heat production and heat loss is upset, the temperature rises and the person experiences a fever, defined as an oral temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37.7 degrees Celsius. It is important to know that a fever is a symptom and not d disease.
There are some body signs and symptoms that are typical effects of the rise in temperature. A person with fever appears and feels flushed. The pulse and breath rate increase and perspiration may be heavy. There may be a general feeling of chilling. Shivering and shaking result, often followed by a rise in the temperature. One feels generally “achey”, tired, or week; a headache or sore eyes may also be present. A feeling of being very thirsty results from the dehydration that occurs when fever is present. As a result, urination may be less frequent and the urine a darker color, the lips, mouth, and tongue may feel dry and “coated”.
It is a very rare occurrence for a fever to go beyond 105-106 degrees Fahrenheit or 40.5-41.1 degrees Celsium.
Now – what to do about this symptom of fever? Indentifying the cause of the fever is important. Some fever causing illnesses such as ear infections or kidney infections respond to direct treatment. However, fever also commonly accompanies “ flu” or cold symptoms, mono, or other virus infections for which there is no direct cure. In such illnesses, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms.
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