Fever

Fever, also known as pyrexia, or a febrile response, is a medical symptom which describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels which are above normal (37 degrees Celsius, 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Fever should not be confused with Hyperthermia, which is an increase in body temperature over the body?s thermoregulatory set-point (approximately 37 degrees Celsius). A fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body?s thermoregulatory set-point, which is usually by about 1-2 degrees Celsius. This elevation in thermoregulatory set-point means that the previous "normal body temperature" would be considered hypothermic. Effector mechanisms, such as increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, activation of brown adipose tissue and muscular shivering attempt to counteract the perceived hypothermia, thereby reaching the new thermoregulatory set-point.

Related Topics:
Medical - Symptom - Body temperature - Celsius - Fahrenheit - Hyperthermia - Hypothermic - Brown adipose tissue

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An adaptive mechanism, fever is the body's reaction to pathogens; it attempts to raise core body temperature to levels which will denature, debilitate, or kill the pathogen. Most fevers are caused by infections and almost all infectious diseases can cause fever. When a patient has or is suspected of having a fever, that person's body temperature is measured using a thermometer. If successful in ridding the body of an invasive pathogen, fever is an important protective immune mechanism and should generally not be suppressed. However, there are instances when fever escalates to temperatures where the body is at risk of destroying its own cells and must be brought under control with suppressive medication.

Related Topics:
Pathogen - Denature - Infectious disease - Thermometer - Immune - Cells - Medication

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